Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 09, 2019 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 2 2 Osprey 1 9 9 Bald Eagle 0 15 15 Northern Harrier 5 50 50 Sharp-shinned Hawk 41 181 181 Cooper's Hawk 0 3 3 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 103 210 210 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 2 55 55 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 8 36 36 Merlin 0 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 160 566 566 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Kevin Georg Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Mark Hainen, Patrick Mulawa Visitors: Our visitors were fortunate to see a few small kettles of broad-wings. Nothing too close unfortunately, as has been the case for all of this season. Weather: Into each life a little unforecast rain must fall and so it was with us today. Light rain to begin and very rough textured skies for most of the day as we waited for the predicted clearing. It arrived at quitting time with skies turning from purple clouds to blue skies within the last hour. Winds turned as predicted to SSE, rising and falling throughout the day. Raptor Observations: An odd day with little movement for the first couple of hours but our boredom was broken by the sight of our first broad-winged hawk kettle of 25 birds. The movement of birds continued at a moderate pace until the middle afternoon hours when it dried up again. Over 100 broad-wings, over 40 sharpies, a double handful of kestrels and one of harriers. Non-raptor Observations: Today was the day the monarchs had their picnic. (with apologies to the teddy-bears) There were so many at times it was difficult to locate birds and mistaking monarchs for sharpies was a definite possibility. Over 1600 on the clicker but we may not have done them justice as it would have taken many people to get an accurate count. We have had good numbers the last couple of years but this was a standout day. Predictions: The temps are scheduled to rise to summer type numbers in the high eighties tomorrow and that usually means winds from the south. Not usually our favored winds or temps so bring the sunscreen and hope for the best. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Detroit River Hawk Watch (jerry.jourdan@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