Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 15, 2015 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 27 1363 73481 Osprey 0 1 81 Bald Eagle 3 30 185 Northern Harrier 0 73 549 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 177 5496 Cooper's Hawk 3 38 233 Northern Goshawk 0 1 5 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 175 651 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 72461 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Red-tailed Hawk 33 1918 3560 Rough-legged Hawk 1 4 8 Golden Eagle 3 30 84 American Kestrel 0 3 815 Merlin 1 4 45 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 35 Unknown Accipiter 0 4 15 Unknown Buteo 0 10 36 Unknown Falcon 0 0 4 Unknown Eagle 0 0 1 Unknown Raptor 0 8 38 Total: 74 3842 157785 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Rosemary Brady Visitors: 10 Weather: With this astonishing run of balmy November conditions, I'm at risk of appearing a broken record. The weather was once again gorgeous, sunny and clear with warming temperatures and a cooling westerly breeze. Raptor Observations: The volume might not have been there but plenty of variety and two memorable moments more than made up for it. Traversing a northern flight line, Red-tailed Hawks and Golden Eagles continued their thrust through the viewing area. Accipiters and vultures were heard from in limited numbers. And a single Merlin and lone Red-shouldered Hawk provided some representative looks. But, now, enough burying the lede. Let's get to the good stuff. Bounding our way low over the trees, a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk dropped anchor and paid us a lengthy visit this morning. To the sound of ecstatic photographers clicking away below, the bird decided to pull up for a lingering soaring session close and overhead, showing off its dark chocolate underparts for all (three of us) to see. Then, later in the day, an extravagantly-mottled subadult Bald Eagle did the same, soaring languidly overhead for several luscious minutes. Non-raptor Observations: Franklin's Gull (1, came in close, different than individual observed two days ago), Bonaparte's Gull (15+), Tundra Swan (20+), Common Loon (1), Hooded Merganser (5), American Black Duck (2), Pine Siskin (15+), American Goldfinch (40+), Horned Lark (70+), American Crow (50+), Rusty Blackbird (12), Eastern Bluebird (1) Predictions: Lots of sun, warm temps and light and variable 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
