Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 26, 2015 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 2053 68715 71121 Osprey 0 6 79 Bald Eagle 5 64 150 Northern Harrier 15 172 461 Sharp-shinned Hawk 71 2366 5281 Cooper's Hawk 7 140 194 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 74 403 403 Broad-winged Hawk 0 256 72461 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Red-tailed Hawk 476 1336 1443 Rough-legged Hawk 2 2 2 Golden Eagle 11 37 38 American Kestrel 2 170 812 Merlin 0 13 40 Peregrine Falcon 0 12 31 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 11 Unknown Buteo 13 19 24 Unknown Falcon 0 1 3 Unknown Eagle 0 0 1 Unknown Raptor 3 9 29 Total: 2732 73724 152587 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:45:00 Total observation time: 8.75 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Jim Lynch, Patrick Mulawa, Rosemary Brady Visitors: 4 Weather: Mostly clear skies, a warm sun, mid 50s temperatures and a gentle southeast breeze all conspired to craft another picture-perfect day at the park. Raptor Observations: While the recent outpouring of Red-shouldered Hawks has been splendid, it left us wondering: Where are all the Redtails? Well, wonder no more! We were blitzed by a bevy of Red-tailed Hawks this morning. In flocks large and small and streams long and short, gobs of Red-tailed Hawks shot through the viewing area from late morning until early evening. And hidden among the many Redtails, an assorted array of goodies motored by as well: the season's first two Rough-legged Hawks, another eleven Golden Eagles and a dark morph adult Red-tailed Hawk, all of which drew oohs and aahs from the onlookers below. Lastly, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that, after today's flight, we've now eclipsed 70,000 vultures in a single season for only the second time in the watch's history. Already a stellar vulture season, we'll just have to wait and see how many we end up with this fall. Non-raptor Observations: Snow Goose (71), Canvasback (80+), Gadwall (2), Wood Duck (2), American Crow (2200+), Cedar Waxwing (34), American Goldfinch (80+) Red-winged Blackbird (600+), Rusty Blackbird (10), Tree Swallow (200+), Eastern Bluebird (1), Monarch (2) Predictions: Mostly cloudy with mild temps and strong east wind. Bring on the Redtails! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jonathan Stein (steinjj19@gmail.com) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org Site Description: The Detroit River Hawk Watch (a joint venture of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and its Friends group, the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance) is the Boat Launch at Lake Erie Metropark located approximately 20 miles south of Detroit, Michigan. The location is at the mouth of the Detroit River as it enters Lake Erie. 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.