Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 27, 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 172 67243 69031 Osprey 0 9 31 Bald Eagle 0 30 55 Northern Harrier 1 238 369 Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 2903 4859 Cooper's Hawk 0 53 63 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 34 425 427 Broad-winged Hawk 0 676 16406 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 61 1631 1756 Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 5 Golden Eagle 2 15 15 American Kestrel 0 252 639 Merlin 0 31 50 Peregrine Falcon 0 65 93 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 1 2 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 1 1 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 279 73579 93803 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Kevin Georg Observers: Alex Gilford, Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood Visitors: While Lake Erie Metropark is currently open to the public, for the safety of our counter and volunteers we encourage visitors to follow along with the count virtually on HawkCount.org, or our Detroit River Hawk Watch Facebook page. There will be daily updates and photographs.If you do decide to join us in person, please help the counter and volunteers to follow their mandated safety protocols by refraining from approaching them. Please follow the recommended Covid 19 procedures by wearing a mask and maintaining a safe social distance. Thanking you in advance for your cooperation. Stay safe! Weather: It was another day in which the weather did not follow the script; the winds not strong enough for the birds to sink their teeth into and it waffled up and down in a very low range ending up coming from the WNW barely turning the wind turbines in Canada. The cloud cover was consistently 100% and light mist fell a few times in the morning before intensifying and shutting down the watch a little early. Barometer was in the fair zone again starting the day at 30.3” and dropping a tenth towards day’s end. Another “go figure” day. Raptor Observations: The birds were slow off the mark again but gradually like early spring crocuses popping up through the snow, buteos began to appear soaring on the light winds. Thirty five red-shoulders and sixty one red-tails floated across on less than sufficient winds to inspire large movements. Turkey vultures were not too enthusiastic with only one hundred and thirty two crossing the bar. A single harrier was noted. Nine sharpies made the trip. One golden eagle made the crossing with a good head of steam. Non-raptor Observations: The swallows and cormorants were the most numerous birds today, each working a different layer of the planet. Small flights of ducks were also seen today, closer than usual, but still too far to ID. One flock of cedar waxwings undulated by. Predictions: Here comes the sun! Tomorrow we may see that golden orb again for the first time in a few days. Don’t worry, if you have grown to like the cloud cover, it will be back on Thursday. The barometer will be dropping gradually tomorrow as a low will be heading our way on the day after. Winds will be increasing from the WSW, up to double digits from a starting point around 8 mph. A difficult day to call since the barometer is dropping and winds could be better. The temperatures will be cool early and rise later but only to 50F+. Flip a coin. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Kevin Georg (kevin.l.georg@gmail.com) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org More site information at hawkcount.org: https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=285