DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 03, 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 294 605 52039 Osprey 0 0 85 Bald Eagle 0 1 181 Northern Harrier 2 7 231 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 48 5282 Cooper's Hawk 4 27 679 Northern Goshawk 0 2 12 Red-shouldered Hawk 39 88 292 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 195858 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Red-tailed Hawk 135 542 2378 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 9 Golden Eagle 1 18 113 American Kestrel 0 2 664 Merlin 1 1 21 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 18 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 59 Unknown Buteo 0 14 55 Unknown Falcon 1 2 5 Unknown Eagle 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 1 11 35 Total: 483 1372 258023 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:15:00 Total observation time: 7.25 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Jim Lynch, Raburn Howland, Rodney Laura Visitors: Zippo. Weather: Cold, overcast and windy about sums it up. The wind, strong throughout, was out of the north and northeast. Raptor Observations: A pretty enjoyable day despite the overcast conditions. Buteos and vultures were clearly interested in moving and took advantage of the north winds. We added another golden eagle, bringing our season total to a very respectable 113 so far. Non-raptor Observations: >From 1045 am until approximately 1130 am, what can best be described as a never ending stream of american crows poured forth from the sky. A conservative estimate would have to start with more than half a million during just that 45-minute span. Really, an incredible sight. And that wasn't the end of the migration, either. The afternoon featured several more large flocks of crows moving through, adding at least another 50,000 to the day's total. Other highlights besides the crows were a great black-backed gull seen floating alongside a raft of american coots out in the channel and a muskrat swimming around near the watch site in the afternoon. Predictions: Mostly sunny. Light winds out of the north. Can't get much better than that. Prediction: we're going to be busy, very, very busy. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jonathan Stein (jonathanjstein@gmail.com) SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org Site Description: The primary site used by the Detroit River Hawk Watch (a joint venture of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and it's Friends group, the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance) is the Boat Launch at Lake Erie Metropark located approximately 20 miles south of Detroit, Michigan. A secondary site, the Headquarters of Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is used during certain wind conditions. When staffing is available, both sites can be used at the same time. The season begins on the first day of September and concludes on the final day of November. For details and directions, log on to www.drhawkwatch.org Directions to site: Lake Erie Metropark: >From I-75, exit at Huron River Drive (exit 27). Continue east on Huron River Drive. Turn left on West Jefferson and proceed a few hundred yards to the entrance of Lake Erie Metropark. After paying the entrance fee, follow the signs to the Boat Launch.