Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 02, 2012
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
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Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 337 762 39739
Osprey 0 0 70
Bald Eagle 0 4 192
Northern Harrier 4 6 225
Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 42 3544
Cooper's Hawk 7 25 385
Northern Goshawk 1 2 11
Red-shouldered Hawk 12 39 268
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 40923
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 4
Red-tailed Hawk 124 373 1432
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 6
Golden Eagle 2 3 7
American Kestrel 0 1 528
Merlin 0 0 37
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 30
Unknown Accipiter 1 2 49
Unknown Buteo 0 0 35
Unknown Falcon 0 0 2
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 1 1 78
Total: 498 1260 87565
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jonathan Stein
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Frank Kitakis, John Elliott,
Patrick Mulawa
Visitors:
Rodney Laura, Jim Lynch and a few others.
Weather:
Besides some relatively brief midday clearing, thick gray clouds provided a
low ceiling for much of the day. There was no precipitation to worry about
other than a short burst of rain that sent us scurrying for cover early.
The wind was moderate to strong and out of the northwest.
Raptor Observations:
A steady diet of Red-tailed Hawks wandered by from the late morning on,
often mixed in with either the swarms of American Crows or the smattering
of Turkey Vultures. Also of note was the addition of two more Golden Eagles
and another Northern Goshawk.
Non-raptor Observations:
We had a spectacular American Crow flight today. Conservatively, more than
150,000 crows flew past, frequently low and close but just as often quite
far out over the lake in a long, broad stream that lasted several hours.
Red-winged Blackbirds (800+), Common Grackles (130+), Rusty Blackbirds
(40+), Blue Jays (60+) and Northern Flickers (6) were also moving.
Additionally, a Common Loon and a Common Merganser gave us separate fly-bys
in the morning.
Predictions:
Partly sunny with highs in the upper 40s and light (5-10 mph) north wind.
Sounds pretty ideal.
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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/
