DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 29, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1220 50347 50864 Osprey 0 16 85 Bald Eagle 2 80 177 Northern Harrier 5 121 223 Sharp-shinned Hawk 25 2791 5202 Cooper's Hawk 11 544 643 Northern Goshawk 3 10 10 Red-shouldered Hawk 83 186 188 Broad-winged Hawk 0 642 195858 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Red-tailed Hawk 472 1657 1735 Rough-legged Hawk 1 8 8 Golden Eagle 40 94 94 American Kestrel 1 256 660 Merlin 0 8 19 Peregrine Falcon 0 5 18 Unknown Accipiter 2 42 56 Unknown Buteo 4 34 34 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 0 2 2 Unknown Raptor 2 20 24 Total: 1871 56863 255907 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Patrick Mulawa, Rodney Laura Visitors: There were many. A partial list: Tim Hochstetter, Mark Yoder, Eddie Yoder, Matthew Yoder, Merle Yoder, Clyde Yoder, Wayne Miller, Matthew Miller, Alvin Miller, David Miller, Stephen Miller, Jonathan Erb, Joe Faggan, Rebecca Labo, Gustav Stadler, Joan Van Sickler Annette Huskin, Bob Jacobs, Tara Johnson, Sean Bachman, Tex Wells, Mark Wloch and Darlene Friedman. Thanks to Pat Mulawa for handling recording duties on another busy day. And thanks to Janet Fox for helping out with outreach. Weather: Partly sunny at the start and at the finish, the midday hours featured a mostly cloudy sky, which limited visibility slightly. Rain was never an issue. The winds were again light and variable. Raptor Observations: Improbably, we eclipsed yesterday's spectacular total of 31 golden eagles with quite a bit of room to spare today. An astounding 40 golden eagles were counted, one at a time, two at a time, three at a time, five at a time and, most memorably, seven at a time. Yes, at 1130 am today, circling high above the stacks a magnificent seven golden eagles could be seen in one binocular field, a kettle of eagles if there ever was one. Later in the day, a mere five could be seen circling together over Celeron Island. Red-shouldered hawks also had an impressive showing today as did red-tailed hawks. Other highlights included great looks at three more northern goshawks and a good look at another dark morph rough-legged hawk. Non-raptor Observations: The tundra swans have arrived. A flock of 12, in formation, powered past the count site in the afternoon. A great horned owl was perched in a bare tree in back of us at the start of the watch. Also, a common loon was observed yet again. Predictions: Partly sunny in the morning with some clouds moving in in the afternoon. Winds are going to be light and variable early, strengthening and turning south late. Unless we've completely exhausted the pipeline, and I don't think we have, there's a strong possibility tomorrow could be another very good day. ======================================================================== 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/
