Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 06, 2021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 109 3366 59169 Osprey 0 0 24 Bald Eagle 0 8 75 Northern Harrier 1 6 359 Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 84 6468 Cooper's Hawk 1 2 41 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 70 388 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 21973 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 40 988 2603 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 1 Golden Eagle 2 23 38 American Kestrel 0 0 1068 Merlin 2 7 56 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 58 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: 163 4556 92322 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Kevin Georg Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Shourjya Majumder Visitors: We are still dealing with the residue of the Covid 19 situation. The workers at the site will be in an enclosed area that is designed for four people only. We still love to interact and share our love of hawk watching with visitors. Feel free to ask questions and look over our shoulders to help you follow the birds. Watch the weather for favorable forecasts as the birds are predictable to some degree based on weather situations. One other thing of note this year; the boat-launch bathroom building has been shut down for the foreseeable future due to plumbing issues. There are Porta-Johns in the parking lot should you require them. Weather: The second day of our southern wind purgatory followed the pattern set by yesterday’s example. Light winds at the beginning of the day, followed by a more than predicted spike in the strength of the winds to double digits as they ended up coming directly from the south. Once again, we watched the flight line, which was very slow to start, edge its way north beyond the limits of our vision. The temperatures did break fifty degrees; in our wind-sheltered location it was quite tolerable. The barometer, while comfortably above thirty inches, began to tail off a little towards day’s end. Clouds were attractive cirrus and cirrocumulus clouds starting with mare’s tails and other delicate formations that stayed on station for most of the day providing some nice accents to a bright blue sky. Raptor Observations: We knew the job was dangerous when we took it. After a first hour with zero birds, we really picked up steam in the second hour with three birds. This was to be expected as the winds were non-existent at the start, leaving the wind-turbines waiting patiently, just like the raptors. The middle of the day gave our best results as has been the case recently. This was the period before the wind reached its peak strength and pushed the birds away. We ended with only one hundred and nine turkey vultures at the end of the day. They came in sporadic small groups. Eight sharp-shins showed, well spread out during the day. One Cooper’s hawk was noted. One northern harrier was observed pumping by the stacks. Forty red-tailed hawks soared through, taking their time. Two golden eagles were noted, including one that had a very distinct pattern on the top of the wings showing light patches well inboard of where they normally are. Unfortunately, the bird was too far away for good photos, so I took some bad ones. The bottom patches on the wings seemed to be in their normal position. Two merlins were seen, including a few minutes where they shared the same airspace at the end of the day. Non-raptor Observations: Crows were on the move again but not in as significant numbers as previous days. We seem to be having more mute swan fly-bys as they announce their presence with their whistling wings. A small flock of cedar waxwings flew by this morning. American pipits were heard at the site today. Bonaparte’s gulls cruised the area. Predictions: Ditto. Tomorrow looks to be a replicant of today. Plenty of sunshine with predicted moderate winds from the SW. Barometer should be staying above thirty, temps even higher in the upper fifties. The fly in the ointment is the wind strength. If it grows, as it has the last two days, it will push the flight to the north making for a long pleasant looking but a less rewarding day. ======================================================================== 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: https://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-2021