Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 11, 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 9 172 172 Osprey 2 7 7 Bald Eagle 1 18 18 Northern Harrier 1 67 67 Sharp-shinned Hawk 70 570 570 Cooper's Hawk 8 16 16 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 61 386 386 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 24 54 54 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 48 174 174 Merlin 2 8 8 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 1 2 2 Unknown Buteo 1 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 5 5 Total: 228 1481 1481 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours Official Counter: Dustin Brewer Observers: Andrew Sturgess Visitors: There were many visitors trickling in and out today who were hoping to see a substantial Broad-winged Hawk flight. At one moment there were as many as 25 people scanning the sky. Weather: We arrived to the count site to find virtually no clouds in the sky. This clarity persisted until around 10:00, when fluffy, cotton-ball-like (Cumulus) clouds rolled in, which were a helpful background to use when looking for raptors. Until about the last hour and a half of the count, the relatively light wind was coming from the north and west, and finished from the southeast. Raptor Observations: Though today was expected by many to be a good Broad-winged Hawk day, it was not particularly so relative to what will likely come later. Rather, the day was relatively slow with Sharp-shinned Hawks, Broad-winged Hawks, and American Kestrels moving more than the other species. We did, however, have more Red-tailed Hawks moving through than any other day yet this season. During the last hour and a half of counting, when the wind conditions became more favorable, we saw an increase in movement, with 20 or more individuals counted for Broad-winged Hawks, American Kestrels, and Sharp-shinned Hawks, between 2 and 3. Non-raptor Observations: A few hummingbirds and monarch butterflies were spotted today, making their way south. Predictions: Tomorrow is predicted to be sunny and clear, with favorable winds from the south and east, so hopefully many of the Broad-winged Hawks that didn't fly today will fly tomorrow! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Detroit River Hawk Watch (greg_norw...@fws.gov) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
