Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 18, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 25 375 375 Osprey 0 62 62 Bald Eagle 3 63 63 Northern Harrier 5 197 197 Sharp-shinned Hawk 158 1600 1600 Cooper's Hawk 1 29 29 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 694 20944 20944 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 62 62 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 2 475 475 Merlin 5 16 16 Peregrine Falcon 2 6 6 Unknown Accipiter 0 4 4 Unknown Buteo 0 4 4 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 13 13 Total: 895 23851 23851 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Patrick Mulawa, Rosemary Brady Visitors: 9 Weather: Chunky gray clouds greeted us early. By mid-morning, they were spitting flecks of rain, necessitating a brief shutdown. But the skies began to clear by early afternoon, producing a helpful mixture of white and blue, ideal for spotting. The wind was light and variable early, shifting to the southeast and strengthening late. Raptor Observations: Well, it required a lengthy wait but a broadwing kettle did reveal itself this afternoon. A nice-sized group was spotted swirling above a distant tree line before streaming out past the stacks. Sharp-shinned Hawks commanded our attention for most of the day, continuing to push through even during the morning drizzle. And not to be overlooked, five fast Merlins jetted by, a respectable daily total for this site. Non-raptor Observations: A rollicking river of Tree Swallows (7500+) dazzled in the morning. Along for the ride were Northern Rough-winged Swallow (80+), Chimney Swift (110+) and Purple Martin (5). Black-and-white Warbler (2), Blackpoll Warbler (2), Black-throated Blue Warbler (2) and Northern Parula (1) were foraging in the trees near the count site. Northern Shoveler (14), Lesser Yellowlegs (3) and Green Heron (1) all gave us fly-bys. Predictions: Partly cloudy skies with warm temps, strong northwest wind and a 50 percent chance of scattered showers in the morning. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jonathan Stein ([email protected]) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org Site Description: The Detroit River Hawk Watch (a joint venture of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and its Friends group, the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance) is the Boat Launch at Lake Erie Metropark located approximately 20 miles south of Detroit, Michigan. The location is at the mouth of the Detroit River as it enters Lake Erie. 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 including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
