Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 27, 2023
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 1275 1275
Osprey 0 51 51
Bald Eagle 0 67 67
Northern Harrier 0 331 331
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 3588 3588
Cooper's Hawk 0 8 8
American Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 107481 107481
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 0 68 68
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 0 917 917
Merlin 0 29 29
Peregrine Falcon 0 19 19
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 1 1
Unknown Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 1 113836 113836
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 11:00:00
Total observation time: 2 hours
Official Counter: Kevin Georg
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Jackie Quinones, Mark Hainen,
Sabrina Salome
Visitors:
We welcome visitors to our site and are very willing to share migration
information, photography and ID tips with them. We have cards and
pamphlets, so come and talk to us. However, during times of high traffic,
requiring extra focus and concentration, we would respectfully ask that
everyone use their indoor voices and allow us to fulfill our mission to the
best of our abilities. Thank you.
Weather:
Rain seemed to play a small part in the predicted forecast, but a larger
part in our plans today. It started innocently enough, after sitting
through three hours of drizzle so fine that it eluded the radar, someone
starting humming a familiar song. Before you knew it, we were all singing a
full-throated rendition of Twisted Sisterâs anthem: âWeâre Not Going
to Take Itâ. Kevin, of course, playing Dee Sniderâs role, our lovely
interns, Jackie and Sabrina, doing backup vocals and harmony. That, of
course, is a lie. After three days of sitting through similar misty rain,
low, dreary cloud decks, and winds that alternately purred and raged with
few raptors to show for it, we did decide that a further investment of our
time today would have a low yield and retired for the day. Winds today were
E and ENE following the tradition of variability that was established in
the past few days. Temperatures were lower today, reaching the lower
sixties, but with humidity over ninety percent, we were only one degree
centigrade from the dew point. Barometric pressure was falling, as rain
looks more certain, tonight and through a portion of tomorrow.
Raptor Observations:
Easy peasy today, one bird took all the medals. Not one speciesâ¦. one
bird: a sharpie. We did see the local Cooperâs hawk stoop into the tree
line.
Non-raptor Observations:
We did have a couple of relatively unusual sightings today. One was a large
flock of well over one hundred common terns that appeared like apparitions
in the gloom and were not seen again. We did see a smaller grouping
yesterday. Usually, we may see one a year. The actual common small tern is
the Forsterâs. At one time, years ago, we frequently saw large rafts of
coots on our right on the lake side. This morning there was a gathering of
perhaps fifty birds there. Shovelers were noted in the canal alongside the
mallards this morning.
Predictions:
Rain is on the way; the radar confirms that. How long it will last in our
corner of the world is anyoneâs guess. It will rain tonight and then we
shall wait it out. The day is not promising as the winds will be high from
a poor direction, temperatures will barely break sixty degrees and the
barometer will be falling. Friday, or Saturday, looks to be potentially, a
better day with early NE winds, a rebounding barometer, and possibly some
break in the cloud cover. The next week is forecast to be much hotter and
that means southerly winds bringing the heat, although they are not
forecast to be strong winds.
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Report submitted by Andrew Sturgess ([email protected])
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
More site information at hawkcount.org:
https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=285
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