DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 25, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 514 37420 37937
Osprey 0 16 85
Bald Eagle 1 75 172
Northern Harrier 8 102 204
Sharp-shinned Hawk 122 2694 5105
Cooper's Hawk 8 481 580
Northern Goshawk 1 5 5
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 51 53
Broad-winged Hawk 0 642 195858
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5
Red-tailed Hawk 12 457 535
Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 5
Golden Eagle 0 22 22
American Kestrel 3 250 654
Merlin 0 8 19
Peregrine Falcon 0 5 18
Unknown Accipiter 3 34 48
Unknown Buteo 1 18 18
Unknown Falcon 0 0 2
Unknown Eagle 0 2 2
Unknown Raptor 1 11 15
Total: 674 42298 241342
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Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jonathan Stein
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Fred Kirn, Patrick Mulawa,
Rodney Laura
Visitors:
Steve Wyborski, Kelly McKinne and Kathryn Zimmerman all stopped by.
Weather:
Much of the day was overcast. Not until the very end did the skies begin to
clear. A few brief rain showers interrupted the count around 1 pm. The
wind, nonexistent at the start, picked up throughout the day, at first
gusting out of the southeast and then shifting more toward the south.
Raptor Observations:
A fairly light day of movement. The highlight was a nice long look at a
juvenile northern goshawk that decided to pull up and circle over the
parking lot.
Non-raptor Observations:
The midday showers gave us an opportunity to scour the trees nearest the
watch site. In so doing, we were able to conjure up some interesting finds,
the best of which was a late season black-throated blue warbler foraging
along the trail. Other notables included hermit thrush, swainson's thrush
and fox sparrow. A carolina wren was calling early in the morning. Later, a
red-breasted nuthatch called and flew across the channel. A small number of
pine siskins and american goldfinches were moving through during the first
hour. Red-winged blackbirds, along with some rusty blackbirds and common
grackles mixed in, continue to make their way south in impressive numbers.
American crows were again noteworthy, passing over in large flocks when the
sky cleared late in the day.
Predictions:
Rain looks likely. There's a 70 percent chance of rain through the early
afternoon. Hopefully we get some clearing after that because if we do
moderate northwest winds (5-10 mph) should get some birds up and moving.
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Report submitted by Jonathan Stein (jonathanjst...@gmail.com)
SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at:
http://www.drhawkwatch.org
Site Description:
The primary site used by the Detroit River Hawk Watch (a joint venture of
the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and it's Friends group, the
International Wildlife Refuge Alliance) is the Boat Launch at Lake Erie
Metropark located approximately 20 miles south of Detroit, Michigan. A
secondary site, the Headquarters of Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is used
during certain wind conditions. When staffing is available, both sites can
be used at the same time. The season begins on the first day of September
and concludes on the final day of November. For details and directions, log
on to www.drhawkwatch.org
Directions to site:
Lake Erie Metropark:
>From I-75, exit at Huron River Drive (exit 27). Continue east on Huron
River Drive. Turn left on West Jefferson and proceed a few hundred yards to
the entrance of Lake Erie Metropark. After paying the entrance fee, follow
the signs to the Boat Launch.
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
