Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 04, 2024
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 0 2252 63826
Osprey 0 0 18
Bald Eagle 0 23 161
Northern Harrier 1 6 325
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 46 3437
Cooper's Hawk 0 8 83
American Goshawk 1 1 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 71 237
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 6785
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1
Red-tailed Hawk 0 350 1279
Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 17
Golden Eagle 0 32 76
American Kestrel 0 0 402
Merlin 0 0 23
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 29
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 15
Unknown Buteo 0 7 38
Unknown Falcon 0 0 13
Unknown Eagle 0 1 4
Unknown Raptor 0 1 29
Total: 4 2802 76799
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Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Michael Patrikeev
Observers: Ben Sehl
Visitors:
We welcome visitors to our site by the boat launch in Lake Erie Metropark.
We have brochures and educational information we are happy to share. Let us
share our enthusiasm for migration and raptors with you! While we welcome
your questions and company, please know that our professional counter,
apprentices, and volunteers must communicate with each other frequently to
successfully conduct the count, and they also must maintain an unobstructed
view of the horizon.
Weather:
A replica of the whether conditions the team experienced last Thursday,
i.e., cloudy skies, threatening with rain, consistent southerly winds and
unseasonably warm temperatures (at least +18C or 65F, though it felt
warmer).
Raptor Observations:
Our prediction from yesterday ("we do not foresee large number of migrating
vultures and other species") was an understatement!
In fact, we did not see any vultures at all, and only ... four other
raptors! Two were Sharp-shins, another a Northern Harrier, and ...
The fourth bird, however, was the long awaited Goose Hawk (AKA Goshawk)!
That was quite a story! A juvenile goshawk crossed the river, low over
water, flying almost straight at me, coming as close as 5 meters (15
feet). It landed in a nearby tree in full view. And the camera with
telephoto lens was ... you guessed right, in the car!
While, I was reaching for another camera with a shorter lens, in the
backpack, the goshawk took off... Murphy's Law at work.
What can I say? It was my closest encounter with the Goshawk ever. The only
consolation it was not an adult in full plumage.
The hawk did not seem to be in a particular hurry, and perhaps still could
be located on the premises of the Metropark.
Non-raptor Observations:
We counted 17 American Crows, and spotted a Belted Kingfisher flying over
the river, and that was about it. Ring-billed and Herring Gulls fighting
over perch, tossed to them by anglers, provided some entertainment.
Otherwise, nearly empty skies (if we discount Canada Geese, hybrid
Mallards, etc.).
Predictions:
Up to +25C (77F) and strong southerly winds tomorrow. Our prediction from
November 3rd still applies. See the first sentence from "Observations
(Raptor related)" for details.
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Report submitted by Erika Van Kirk (erika_vank...@fws.gov)
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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