DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 18, 2011
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 3 1188 52622
Osprey 0 0 85
Bald Eagle 6 25 205
Northern Harrier 0 25 249
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 85 5319
Cooper's Hawk 3 67 718
Northern Goshawk 0 7 18
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 174 378
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 195858
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5
Red-tailed Hawk 32 1506 3342
Rough-legged Hawk 1 9 17
Golden Eagle 1 57 152
American Kestrel 0 2 664
Merlin 0 1 21
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 21
Unknown Accipiter 0 4 60
Unknown Buteo 0 18 59
Unknown Falcon 0 2 5
Unknown Eagle 0 0 2
Unknown Raptor 0 13 37
Total: 50 3186 259837
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jonathan Stein
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Frank Kitakis, Fred Kirn,
John Elliott, Rodney Laura
Visitors:
Negative.
Weather:
A thin film of high cirrus clouds was present throughout the day.
Temperatures were in the 40s. Moderate winds out of the south early,
strengthening and turning southwest later on.
Raptor Observations:
The skies were mostly empty. Pushed by the south winds, many birds were
seen well to our north. Not included among those were the six bald eagles
seen today, all of which came in close and offered up great looks. Besides
the eagles, the day's other highlight was an adult light morph rough-legged
hawk that passed no more than 150 feet overhead.
Non-raptor Observations:
At one point in the afternoon, two red-breasted mergansers flew in and
spent a short time in the channel out in front of us. Later, a lesser scaup
was spotted out past Celeron Island. Tens of thousands of American coots
could be seen alternately floating on and amassing in large, swirling
flocks low over the lake. Also, hundreds of tundra swans can now be seen
from the Cove Point Picnic Area.
Predictions:
It's going to be mostly sunny in the morning with some clouds moving in in
the afternoon. Highs in the low 50s. Moderate to strong winds (10-20 mph)
will be out of the southwest. Probably will be a lot like today: minimal
activity but with some definite highlights.
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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.
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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/
