Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 10, 2023
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 30 3205 93825
Osprey 0 0 52
Bald Eagle 10 29 137
Northern Harrier 4 21 485
Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 109 6881
Cooper's Hawk 6 11 69
American Goshawk 0 1 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 19 116 393
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 103457
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 54 1153 2546
Rough-legged Hawk 1 5 20
Golden Eagle 9 50 63
American Kestrel 0 5 1277
Merlin 1 3 49
Peregrine Falcon 0 9 58
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 2
Unknown Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 141 4717 209319
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Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Natalie Cypher, Paul Cypher, Sam Heilman
Observers: Frank Kitakis, Jerry Jourdan, Jessica Fletcher,
Natalie Cypher, Paul Cypher, Rosemary Brady, Sam Heilman
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:
A northwest wind in the morning shifted to west in the afternoon. Clouds
were variable, however, the sky stayed mostly clear for most of the day.
The pressures stayed fairly constant at around 30.1 in. The wind wasnât
nearly as gusty as it was over the past couple days.
Raptor Observations:
The morning hours saw the largest rush of the day, peaking at 52 birds in
the third hour with 3 golden eagles. A large variety of raptors made their
appearance. Red-tailed hawks were the most abundant, with only a few small
kettles of turkey vultures throughout the day. Golden eagles (9 total) made
their appearance, one putting on a particularly spectacular show soaring
close overhead with a juvenile bald eagle accompanying it. A single
rough-legged hawk came through, always an exciting sight! Other migratory
birds included harriers, Cooperâs hawks, Sharp-shins, Bald Eagles and a
single Merlin.
Non-raptor Observations:
The little gull made a very short appearance in the morning, however,
didnât seem interested in sticking around for repeat fly-bys. Crows (771
of them!) were in the air today as well, doing their best to fool us.
Tundra swans (22) made a fly-by, and as always we scoured the flock for
snow geese, but there were none. Many gulls were also in the air today,
forming kettles and doing their best hawk impressions.
Predictions:
There will be no official count tomorrow due to Veteranâs Day. However,
Iâll take a stab at predicting what the day will be like for those people
coming to observe unofficially. The winds will be out of the north, which
usually brings a good amount of raptors. However, they will be quite weak
at only 4 mph. So, I think it could go either way.
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Report submitted by Jessie Fletcher ([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
Count data submitted via Dunkadoo - Project info at:
https://dunkadoo.org/explore/detroit-river-international-wildlife-refuge/detroit-river-hawk-watch-fall-2023
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