Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 03, 2019 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 453 1486 49694 Osprey 0 0 35 Bald Eagle 3 6 84 Northern Harrier 0 4 269 Sharp-shinned Hawk 19 56 3913 Cooper's Hawk 0 2 85 Northern Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 37 67 262 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 64336 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 86 198 1056 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 2 Golden Eagle 2 3 7 American Kestrel 0 1 699 Merlin 0 0 31 Peregrine Falcon 1 3 49 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 601 1827 120524 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Kevin Georg Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Mark Hainen, Raburn Howland, Rosemary Brady Visitors: We did have a few visitors today and did have something to show them. Unfortunately, the winds kept most of the birds on the far side of the slip and overhead flights were high and mostly wide. Weather: Another day with a constantly changing vista of cloud formations of varying colors and textures. Eventually the skies were mostly clear and the sun provided welcome heat to the watchers. Winds again were from the southern quarter with a little west thrown in for good measure. They diminished during the watch but still provided a head wind for the raptors. Barometer was mostly steady at 30.15 although it did dip a little at the beginning. Raptor Observations: Despite the winds, the raptors were on the move. 453 turkey vultures seemed have issues deciding on a flight line meandering around the sky searching for the path of least resistance. Buteos were well represented with 86 red-tails and 36 red-shoulders. 19 sharp-shins were well spread out throughout the day. 2 golden eagles were seen at a distance and a peregrine falcon flew into our field on view as we were looking at another bird. Better to be lucky than good sometimes. Non-raptor Observations: The tree swallow numbers seemed to diminish today but they move around with the insect hatch. A pair of common goldeneye flew by today. A rare occurrence back in our little part of the lake. Other waterfowl were seen migrating in the distance, too far away to be ID'ed. The tundra swans continued their noisy flights overhead. Crows were on the move with nearly three thousand counted. Predictions: Increasing winds from the SSW (Again!) and a falling barometer would not seem to favor the site. There is some rain in the neighborhood but it will probably pass to the north. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that most of the birds will do the same thing as the are pushed away from us by the winds. Hope springs eternal though and we will man the ramparts again letting none pass uncounted. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew Sturgess (ajyes72@gmail.com) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org More site information at hawkcount.org: http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=285 Count data submitted via Dunkadoo - Project info at: https://dunkadoo.org/explore/detroit-river-international-wildlife-refuge/detroit-river-hawk-watch-fall-2019