DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 12, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 9 9 Osprey 2 23 23 Bald Eagle 6 33 33 Northern Harrier 6 24 24 Sharp-shinned Hawk 189 1036 1036 Cooper's Hawk 1 16 16 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 29 29 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 10 10 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 46 127 127 Merlin 0 4 4 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 2 4 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 252 1315 1315 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Fred Kirn, John Elliott, Patrick Mulawa Visitors: We had a great group of spotters today including several regulars and a handful of others who helped out. Weather: Clear, blue skies characterized the morning with a touch of haze limiting visibility slightly. Clouds began to float in during the afternoon but not enough to block out the unyielding sun. A short shower sent us scurrying for shelter late in the watch. Winds were light. When there was wind, it was mostly from the southwest. Raptor Observations: Sharpies and kestrels kept us busy again. We appear to be en route to another very good bald eagle year with six more migrants added today. Non-raptor Observations: Not much was noted. The last two days saw a noticeable dip in our warbler numbers around the count site. Swallow sightings appear to be decreasing as well. Predictions: Partly sunny with a 30 percent of chance of rain. Temperatures should reach into the lower 80s. Strong winds out of the southwest. Even with the potential for rain, it should be a good day for seeing migrants. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Greg Norwood (greg_norw...@fws.gov) SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org Site Description: The primary site used by the Detroit River Hawk Watch (a joint venture of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and it's Friends group, the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance) is the Boat Launch at Lake Erie Metropark located approximately 20 miles south of Detroit, Michigan. A secondary site, the Headquarters of Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is used during certain wind conditions. When staffing is available, both sites can be used at the same time. The season begins on the first day of September and concludes on the final day of November. For details and directions, log on to www.drhawkwatch.org 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. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
