Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 29, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1112 85836 87969 Osprey 0 2 53 Bald Eagle 0 28 100 Northern Harrier 7 112 467 Sharp-shinned Hawk 32 2962 6715 Cooper's Hawk 3 46 57 American Goshawk 1 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 24 247 247 Broad-winged Hawk 0 109 107691 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1 Red-tailed Hawk 146 1006 1092 Rough-legged Hawk 2 14 14 Golden Eagle 0 7 7 American Kestrel 0 296 1281 Merlin 0 12 43 Peregrine Falcon 0 26 46 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 1 2 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 1327 90707 205788 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 4.5 hours Official Counter: Andrew Sturgess, Kevin Georg Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Jackie Quinones Visitors: We welcome visitors to our site and are very willing to share migration information, photography and ID tips with them. We have cards and pamphlets, so come and talk to us. However, during times of high traffic, requiring extra focus and concentration, we would respectfully ask that everyone use their indoor voices and allow us to fulfill our mission to the best of our abilities. Thank you. Weather: Another day in the belly of the beast, which is turning more beastly this week. We will explore the limits of our endurance as temperatures will only climb to the low forties for the next four days. Bring it on, we are Michigan tough! (I may regret saying that.) Today’s watch was shortened by rain on both ends, two hours late on the start, and about thirty minutes at the end when it started showering on us. Winds were NE, and in our face, staying below ten mph but not by much. The day was dark as thick clouds blanketed the sky, looking very much like a winter scene. The barometer was in a declining mood but at a measured pace. Raptor Observations: We didn’t get much action in the first hour as the birds had faced rain in Canada before advancing towards us. Turkey vultures were not setting any records today but a slow, steady stream of small kettles kept us busy. We broke the 1K mark with 1,112 at days end. Red-tailed hawks were on the move, seemingly appearing out of the gloom playing follow the leader with the turkey vultures. 146 were noted today, a lot of them looking like dark morphs in the dark atmosphere but none of them actually were. Red-shoulders kept them company to the tune of twenty-four specimens. Sharp-shins were flying today in smaller numbers with thirty-two passing through. Seven harriers were seen. Three Cooper’s hawks were tallied. Their big brother, the American goshawk accounted for one of the birds today. Two rough-legged hawks were also seen, one of each morph. Non-raptor Observations: Ducks seemed to be up and about today with flights of them moving, at times in the wrong direction, but nevertheless on the move. A few scaup and one common merganser were the only ones with positive IDs. Forster’s terns were busy terrorizing the minnows again. Crows were not as common as yesterday, but we had a few murders of decent size later in the day. Swallows are still working the neighborhood, sometimes just above the lake, other times higher in the sky. Rusty blackbirds were heard in the trees nearby. Predictions: There is more rain in the forecast tonight but it should be finished at the start of the watch. Clouds may part to reveal a little sunshine, but later in the afternoon, if it happens at all. Winds will be stronger tomorrow, out of the NW, climbing above the ten-mph mark by a couple of mph. Temperatures will drop another handful of degrees into the low forties but real-feels will be in the high thirties. Gulp. The winds might be a little strong for our site to reap full benefits of a northern wind but we shall see if they can work their way up to us, or choose to take a shortcut across the lake. ======================================================================== 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-2023