DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 04, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 2141 9872 10389 Osprey 1 5 74 Bald Eagle 9 35 132 Northern Harrier 9 31 133 Sharp-shinned Hawk 216 823 3234 Cooper's Hawk 59 132 231 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 4 6 Broad-winged Hawk 84 589 195805 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Red-tailed Hawk 78 139 217 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 11 155 559 Merlin 0 0 11 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 14 Unknown Accipiter 2 5 19 Unknown Buteo 2 6 6 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 2 6 Total: 2618 11799 210843 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Fred Kirn, John Elliott, Patrick Mulawa, Rodney Laura Visitors: Thanks so much to the lively and highly effective group of spotters that turned out today. In addition to our regular observers, Paul Cypher, Mark Wloch, Andrew Sturgess and Greg Smith all helped out immensely. More than 25 others were in and out throughout the day. Weather: Couldn't have asked for a nicer day at the park. After enduring so much wet, windy and altogether wretched weather of late, we were finally given a full day of completely sunny skies. There was a slight chill to the morning hours but once the sun began to warm the ground and the raptors began to fly, that was quickly forgotten. There was a light breeze out of the northwest for most of the day. Raptor Observations: Fun day today with raptors pouring out of the sky in waves after the 11 o'clock hour. Clear skies and a warming sun led to many birds circling way up high, which meant a lot of neck-craning was necessary to spot the many raptors overhead. Red-tailed hawks had their first big push of the season. Broad-winged hawks continue to be seen sporadically in small wandering groups. And a few red-shouldered hawks, making an appearance for the first time in a while, came low enough to provide great looks and an opportunity for our many photographers to snap a few candid shots. Turkey vultures again ruled the last hour of the watch as several largish kettles slowly wound their way past the viewing area. Non-raptor Observations: There were a lot of songbirds around in the morning. American goldfinch and American robin were particularly abundant. Mixed in with the goldfinches were a few pine siskins. A red-breasted nuthatch called a couple times and flew overhead. Two horned larks were detected. Our warbler-magnet spruce gave us nice looks at a tiny flock of cape may warblers and also a lone pine warbler. Later in the day, a spotted sandpiper flew by low along the water just in front of the boat launch. A couple wood ducks gave us a fly-by later as well. Predictions: Like today, it's going to be sunny and clear. Light winds will again be out of the northwest. Come on out and enjoy the wonderful weather by the boat launch. There's a pretty good chance you'll get to see a lot of migrating raptors if you do. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jonathan Stein ([email protected]) 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 [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
