Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 18, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 14293 49443 51849 Osprey 0 5 78 Bald Eagle 6 44 130 Northern Harrier 6 101 390 Sharp-shinned Hawk 84 1789 4704 Cooper's Hawk 9 74 128 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 9 44 44 Broad-winged Hawk 1 255 72460 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Red-tailed Hawk 71 272 379 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 3 4 American Kestrel 1 151 793 Merlin 0 10 37 Peregrine Falcon 1 9 28 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 9 Unknown Buteo 0 0 5 Unknown Falcon 0 1 3 Unknown Eagle 0 0 1 Unknown Raptor 0 3 23 Total: 14481 52204 131067 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 9.5 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood Visitors: 9 Weather: Gray clouds hung low and thick to start the morning, but it wasn't long before bits of blue began to peek through. By early afternoon, blue sky reigned, offset by some helpful cumulus that stuck around until completion. Temperatures remained chilly for a second straight day, rising no higher than the low 50s. The wind, light and out of the west early, strengthened and shifted north late. Raptor Observations: Mouth agape in stunned silence, feverishly clicking away in a state of joyous agitation. My demeanor rarely wavered for a three hour stretch this afternoon as an unending parade of Turkey Vultures crossed the lake, eerily calm and quiet as always. Just when it appeared as if that was the end of it, the next swirling column would appear off in the hazy distance, itching to move. An unforgettable outing, the 14,293 vultures counted today is the third highest single-day total in the count's history and the highest since the record-setting fall of 2010. Non-raptor Observations: Sandhill Crane (2), Tundra Swan (19), Blue Jay (800+), American Crow (650+), Red-winged Blackbird (450+), Rusty Blackbird (55+), Tree Swallow (6000+), Palm Warbler (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (6), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (4), Golden-crowned Kinglet (1), American Goldfinch (35+), Pine Siskin (20+), House Finch (4), Killdeer (1) Predictions: Clear skies with warmer temps and strong south wind. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jonathan Stein (steinj...@gmail.com) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org Site Description: The Detroit River Hawk Watch (a joint venture of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and its Friends group, the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance) is the Boat Launch at Lake Erie Metropark located approximately 20 miles south of Detroit, Michigan. The location is at the mouth of the Detroit River as it enters Lake Erie. 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 including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
