Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 28, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 647 1641 1641 Osprey 0 48 48 Bald Eagle 7 114 114 Northern Harrier 19 113 113 Sharp-shinned Hawk 189 1444 1444 Cooper's Hawk 26 102 102 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 5 5 Broad-winged Hawk 136 40756 40756 Swainson's Hawk 0 3 3 Red-tailed Hawk 37 124 124 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 26 351 351 Merlin 1 20 20 Peregrine Falcon 1 16 16 Unknown Accipiter 4 19 19 Unknown Buteo 4 9 9 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 6 32 32 Total: 1107 44799 44799 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Frank Kitakis, John Elliott Visitors: 25+ Weather: The sky was mostly blue up until the last few hours when some chunky clouds began to move in. Sunny, temperatures hovered around the upper 60s. The wind was light and out of the north, strengthening and turning more toward the east late. Raptor Observations: It was slow for much of the day, but when the wind shifted more easterly in the afternoon, we had two very productive hours. Sharpies and harriers were pouring out of the sky and were joined by a decent number of Cooper's, Red-tailed and Broad-winged hawks. A lingering adult Peregrine Falcon and a swift Merlin pumping hard and out of sight were a nice way to end things. Non-raptor Observations: Two Solitary Sandpipers dropped by around midday. Blue Jays (30,000+) were again exceptionally abundant. Red-winged Blackbirds (350+) were moving in the morning. Predictions: Mostly sunny with highs in the upper 60s and light north wind. Sounds a lot like today. ======================================================================== 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/
