Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 07, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 791 2957 6705 Osprey 2 9 61 Bald Eagle 4 28 149 Northern Harrier 0 12 144 Sharp-shinned Hawk 22 332 1962 Cooper's Hawk 6 24 161 Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 9 27 Broad-winged Hawk 0 3 40922 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 3 Red-tailed Hawk 14 83 269 Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 1 1 American Kestrel 1 31 403 Merlin 1 2 23 Peregrine Falcon 1 2 18 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 22 Unknown Buteo 2 3 17 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 5 41 Total: 848 3504 50931 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 14:15:00 Total observation time: 7.25 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Patrick Mulawa Visitors: Joseph Faggan, Stevie Kuroda, Bruce Watson, Rosemary Brady and a few others. Weather: It was overcast from start to finish. Sporadic drizzle occurred throughout the day and heavier rain shut down the watch early. Temperatures remained in the 40s. The wind was light and variable in the morning, strengthening and turning toward the west in the afternoon. Raptor Observations: One big highlight today: the first Rough-legged Hawk of the season. A dark morph, the bird crossed slowly just to our north, stopping to circle high over the parking lot and offering up spectacular looks. Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks also had a fairly nice showing, especially considering the overcast conditions. Non-raptor Observations: A meadowlark called and flew overhead early. Forster's Terns (4) were foraging in the channel briefly in the morning. A flock of Wood Ducks (6) flew by at one point. Cape May and Blackpoll warblers could again be found in the spruce behind us. One Nashville Warbler and one Tennessee Warbler joined a large pack of puddle-bathing Yellow-rumped Warblers in the afternoon. Red-winged Blackbirds (600+), Blue Jays (10000+), Canada Geese (200+) and Great Egrets (30+) were on the move all day. Chimney Swifts (5) were still around, too. Predictions: Mostly sunny with highs in the mid 50s and south wind at 5 to 10 mph. ======================================================================== 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/
