Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 20, 2019
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Species            Day's Count    Month Total   Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture               0           4011          52219
Osprey                       0              0             35
Bald Eagle                   0             15             93
Northern Harrier             0             74            339
Sharp-shinned Hawk           2            251           4108
Cooper's Hawk                0             33            116
Northern Goshawk             0              1              2
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            536            731
Broad-winged Hawk            0              0          64336
Swainson's Hawk              0              0              0
Red-tailed Hawk              1           3799           4657
Rough-legged Hawk            0             10             11
Golden Eagle                 0             45             49
American Kestrel             0              4            702
Merlin                       0              1             32
Peregrine Falcon             0              6             52
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              0              1
Unknown Falcon               0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor               0              0              0

Total:                       3           8786         127483
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Observation start time: 09:00:00 
Observation end   time: 15:00:00 
Total observation time: 6 hours

Official Counter:        Kevin Georg

Observers:        Andrew Sturgess, Rosemary Brady, Sam Heilman

Visitors:
We had some visitors from Columbus OH in search of golden eagles who
happened to hit us on an off day. They did get to see the local bald eagle
being harassed by a local gull who was not impressed by his king of the
jungle status.


Weather:
Although the barometer rose by .4" overnight, the predicted sun did not
show and the winds were inconsistent, the flags raising now and again with
little enthusiasm from their vertical positions. Another day very much like
the one before and with little more to show for the effort.

Raptor Observations:
Although we are over 127K birds total this year, we only added three to
that number today. One juvie red-tailed flew over us and 2 sharpies were
observed. This never looked like a promising day from the onset. Although
we waited for the weather to change it was deja vu all over again.

Non-raptor Observations:
A young ruddy duck was seen close to the site separated from his flock. We
spotted nearly 90 sandhill cranes in four nearly equal flights. This was
the high for the year by far. A pair of common mergansers were seen racing
by. A few tree swallows were seen searching for the last remaining insects
in the sky. Bonaparte's gulls continue to hang around.

Predictions:
The only reason I like tomorrow's forecast is that things might finally get
moving again. We have been in a dead zone with little frontal activity to
move the birds. That will change tomorrow with "forecasted" higher winds,
albeit from the wrong direction, and rain moving in. The barometer should
drop nearly 5."Hg overnight and through the day. he winds will be building
to double digits but from the south. All bad indicators. So what's to like?
This day sets up a nice rebound on Friday with rising barometer and winds
from the NW. If it all comes to pass that could be a good day.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Andrew Sturgess (ajye...@gmail.com)
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org


More site information at hawkcount.org:  
http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=285
Count data submitted via Dunkadoo -  Project info at:
https://dunkadoo.org/explore/detroit-river-international-wildlife-refuge/detroit-river-hawk-watch-fall-2019


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