Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 19, 2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 45365 47153 Osprey 0 9 31 Bald Eagle 0 28 53 Northern Harrier 0 192 323 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 2634 4590 Cooper's Hawk 0 41 51 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 96 98 Broad-winged Hawk 0 675 16405 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 647 772 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 4 4 American Kestrel 0 248 635 Merlin 0 23 42 Peregrine Falcon 0 58 86 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 1 2 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 6 50023 70247 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 12:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 2.5 hours Official Counter: Kevin Georg Observers: Andrew Sturgess 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 an odd forecast yesterday with a relatively high barometric pressure of 30.2” the spot where “Fair” is written on the dial, and yet rain was possible early, with definite rain forecast later on. The winds were supposed to be NE which, normally, with that barometer reading should be good for migration, yet that fly in the ointment of rain remained. The fly eventually assumed the dimensions of Jeff Goldblum (The Fly, 1986) and was large enough to wash out the morning hours of the watch. We started late but the sky remained loaded with low wet clouds and the winds were shifting around more to the west causing the wind turbines to chase it. We are apparently in the confluence of different systems, none of which are well defined. Raptor Observations: The flight was muted today and it was a surprise to see four red-shouldered hawks during the limited time we spent there during the afternoon. Two sharp-shinned hawks also made their way through. The turkey vultures sat this dance out. Non-raptor Observations: The swallows were very evident today with hundreds of them imitating sharpies in the glide pattern. I have to wonder what insects were up there in this lousy weather but nature is full of mysteries. Our local white dove was seen exercising its wings across the way. Pictures at eleven. Otherwise, it was a dull day to match the weather. Predictions: I look at Weather Underground to make predictions and what I look at in the evening sometimes bears no resemblance to what actually happens, such as today. Tomorrow looks to be another day with potentially good signs on a couple of indicators but with a blue layer at the bottom indicating possible showers and definite rain forecast for later in the night hours. I think it will be turbulent weather for a few days with chances that the timing of the predictions may be off from time to time. We do have good winds and a high barometer tomorrow so I hope that will bring the raptors again. ======================================================================== 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