DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 20, 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 761 105348 106719 Osprey 1 7 59 Bald Eagle 0 47 185 Northern Harrier 0 117 379 Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 1215 6170 Cooper's Hawk 6 431 668 Northern Goshawk 0 4 6 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 247 252 Broad-winged Hawk 0 209 79572 Red-tailed Hawk 12 799 1047 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 5 5 American Kestrel 0 96 669 Merlin 0 15 39 Peregrine Falcon 0 15 35 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 17 Prairie Falcon 0 1 3 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Total: 788 108556 195830 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Rob Payne Observers: Jim Maki, John Elliott, Rodney Laura Visitors: 2, I didn't even have to use my toes this time! Weather: Today was a very interesting day, if you were a weather caster. A low pressure system moved in today bringing few clouds, but a lot of wind. Winds were very strong from the south west, for the most part, and only at some altitudes. The light hazy clouds and jet streams were showing the wind blowing in nearly all 4 directions, and almost all those in between. Wind speeds averaged around 11mph, but one gust touched 30mph in the afternoon. Today was also the lowest the barometer has read all season. Raptor Observations: My best guess for this, is the raptors were confused today. Unseasonably quiet with only 788 raptors counted of only 5 species. Where did they go? The few Turkey Vultures we did see came through in kettles around 50 at a time, and they were fighting to get through the head wind. Some groups couldn't get over the tree line for more than a few seconds at a time. A group of 10 could be seen out over Canada, and they literally stayed floating in a motionless kettle for over a half hour. Also of note 0 Red-shouldered Hawks were seen, and only 12 Red-tailed Hawks. The daily flight stopped at around 2pm (EDST), no birds were seen after that. Non-raptor Observations: Just 1 moderate sized flock of American Crows, even they had difficulties, and called it quits. A female Red-breasted Merganser came in from the north today and landed in viewing distance in Lake Erie. That is the first one we have seen this season. Predictions: Tomorrow should be sunny with a few clouds, some rain is expected tonight, but we will only see the aftermath. No rain is expected for the count period. It will be a bit warmer tomorrow than it was today, and the wind should be more even and steady. Though similar patterns today are not out of the question. According to a 10-day forecast these next two days will be the end of our oddly warm fall, nothing but showers and wind. Who believes 10-day forecasts anyway? ======================================================================== Report submitted by Greg Norwood (greg_norw...@fws.gov) SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
