Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 08, 2015
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 1
Turkey Vulture 301 985 73103
Osprey 0 1 81
Bald Eagle 9 15 170
Northern Harrier 14 54 530
Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 158 5477
Cooper's Hawk 9 30 227
Northern Goshawk 0 0 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 54 120 596
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 72461
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 646 1132 2774
Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 7
Golden Eagle 4 20 74
American Kestrel 0 2 814
Merlin 1 3 44
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 33
Unknown Accipiter 0 3 14
Unknown Buteo 1 8 34
Unknown Falcon 0 0 4
Unknown Eagle 0 0 1
Unknown Raptor 2 5 35
Total: 1053 2540 156483
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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, Jim Lynch, Patrick Mulawa,
Rosemary Brady
Visitors:
20+
Weather:
Cloud cover was hard to come by today. On a few occasions, some high cirrus
sprouted up, only to disappear as quickly as it appeared. Otherwise, the
sky was as blue as could be. But unlike recent outings, when a troublesome
layer of haze wreaked havoc throughout, the haze dissipated early today,
granting us adequate spotting conditions despite the lack of clouds.
Slightly cooler, temperatures proved unable to breach the mid-50s for the
first time in a while. The wind was light and variable early, eventually
strengthening somewhat and shifting southwest.
Raptor Observations:
Propelled by a 260-bird hour, Red-tailed Hawks obliterated their previous
season high today, swarming the skies from mid-morning until late
afternoon. In flocks upwards of 20-strong, clouds of Redtails bubbled up
out of the trees across from us and lazily drifted north, allowing the
light southwest wind to carry them off and away. A mostly distant flight
line, the rare Redtail favored us with a close look or two. Red-shouldered
Hawks tried to keep pace early but were quickly overtaken by the droves of
tails, their numbers dwindling to a trickle after noon. In non-buteo news,
Cooper's Hawks returned to the count sheet after a two-day break. Bald
Eagles and Northern Harriers asserted themselves in the afternoon after a
quiet morning. And four more gorgeous Goldens let us affix our gaze upon
their gleaming plumage.
Non-raptor Observations:
American Crow (15000+), Sandhill Crane (4), Bufflehead (3), Hooded
Merganser (1), American Goldfinch (30+), Winter Wren (1), Hairy Woodpecker
(1), Monarch (1),
Predictions:
Sunny and clear with mild temps and light and variable winds.
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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.
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