DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 23, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1066 31475 31992 Osprey 0 16 85 Bald Eagle 2 73 170 Northern Harrier 6 92 194 Sharp-shinned Hawk 248 2488 4899 Cooper's Hawk 20 464 563 Northern Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 38 40 Broad-winged Hawk 0 642 195858 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Red-tailed Hawk 17 351 429 Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 5 Golden Eagle 5 19 19 American Kestrel 8 242 646 Merlin 0 8 19 Peregrine Falcon 1 5 18 Unknown Accipiter 6 30 44 Unknown Buteo 1 11 11 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 1 2 2 Unknown Raptor 0 9 13 Total: 1384 35972 235016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Rodney Laura Visitors: A good number of visitors today. Dan Gertiser, Greg Smith, Rosemary Brady, Denise Ward, Darlene Friedman, Joan Tisdeal, Richard Nabe, Bob Jacobson, Bob Pettit, Allan Brushaber and Melinda Powers all stopped by. Weather: Today was bright and mostly clear with a few clouds drifting in and out. Hazy skies proved to be a drag on visibility. There wasn't much wind to speak of. When there was wind, it was out of the southwest early and then out of the southeast late. Raptor Observations: A very good day that could have been even better with a little more wind and a little less haze. Turkey vultures were again up and active but crossed farther to our north and were difficult to spot in the haze. Sharp-shinned hawks were frequently shooting through in groups of fours and fives. And golden eagles had a second straight splendid day with five more birds seen. Non-raptor Observations: Another day, another couple of common loon sighting. Two loons were spotted flying together very early in the morning. Then, later in the day, a single bird was observed in flight, heading northwest. American crows could be seen moving through all day, frequently in large flocks stretching as far as the eye could see. It was also another excellent day of Monarch migration, especially for this late in the season. In the afternoon, hundreds filled the sky. Predictions: It looks like mostly cloudy in the morning with considerable clearing in the afternoon. Winds are going to be out of the southwest to start and then eventually shift to the northwest. Temperatures should get up into the 60s again. Pretty favorable conditions. Hopefully our hot streak continues. ======================================================================== 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/
