DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 05, 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 235 1052 52486 Osprey 0 0 85 Bald Eagle 1 5 185 Northern Harrier 5 12 236 Sharp-shinned Hawk 10 60 5294 Cooper's Hawk 12 40 692 Northern Goshawk 3 5 15 Red-shouldered Hawk 47 161 365 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 195858 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Red-tailed Hawk 472 1141 2977 Rough-legged Hawk 3 4 12 Golden Eagle 7 38 133 American Kestrel 0 2 664 Merlin 0 1 21 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 20 Unknown Accipiter 1 4 60 Unknown Buteo 1 16 57 Unknown Falcon 0 2 5 Unknown Eagle 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 1 13 37 Total: 798 2558 259209 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:15:00 Total observation time: 7.25 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Don Sherwood, Jim Lynch, Patrick Mulawa, Rodney Laura Visitors: Not too many. Darlene Friedman, Brenda Schmalzried, Georgia Schmalzried, Doris Gebhard, Michelle Tremmel, Clare Allenson and Tom Allenson all stopped by. Weather: A gorgeous fall day, cool and crisp with a slight breeze from the southeast. Clear skies predominated but a few contrails and puffy clouds made spotting a little easier. Raptor Observations: Good times today. The flight was consistently engrossing throughout with some definite highlights sprinkled in. Red-tailed hawks were a steady presence from start to finish, frequently streaming by one after the other in groups of 5-15 birds. We got very good looks at two out of the three northern goshawks. Seven more golden eagles were seen, the first of which came right overhead. Rough-legged hawks, none of which were all that close, made their return to the count sheet. An adult male northern harrier passing over the parking lot proved to be a great way to the end the day. Non-raptor Observations: A common loon flew by early in the morning. Snow buntings were abundant around midday with more than 50 counted. A lesser yellowlegs was spotted flying north late in the afternoon. Also, one Monarch was noted. Predictions: Mostly sunny with moderate winds out of the south. Looks to be a lot like today, except a little windier. Hopefully the same flight line carries over into tomorrow. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jonathan Stein (jonathanjst...@gmail.com) 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/
