Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 23, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1 3422 89247 Osprey 0 0 52 Bald Eagle 1 53 157 Northern Harrier 0 34 496 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 184 6884 Cooper's Hawk 1 30 84 American Goshawk 0 3 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 228 453 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 103456 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Red-tailed Hawk 15 2134 3446 Rough-legged Hawk 0 7 20 Golden Eagle 0 119 130 American Kestrel 0 5 1276 Merlin 0 12 58 Peregrine Falcon 1 16 63 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 2 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 24 6247 205830 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours Official Counter: Kevin Georg Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Rosemary Brady 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: Happy Thanksgiving to all. Not a lot to give thanks for in the way of raptor traffic today. The winds were working their way to the N but started at SW in the early morning hours so it took some time. Wind speeds were generally in the five to ten mph range. Plenty of sunshine gave the day a nice sheen to it but there was a little bite to the wind, even though temperatures rose to the upper forties. The barometer will continue to rise tomorrow but at a more accelerated pace. Raptor Observations: Fifteen red-tails were in the majority today with only twenty-four birds counted. The next closest was red-shouldered hawks with three. Two sharp-shins were seen working into the wind. Only one of the following species was counted: Turkey Vulture, Bald eagle, Cooper’s hawk, and peregrine falcon. Non-raptor Observations: The pelicans came out in force today with at least seventy birds wheeling over Celeron Island, possibly more as they were splitting off into smaller groups at times, making them hard to tally. We kept our eyes open for the Pacific loon which has been reported off the Metroparks shores in Lake Erie but didn’t see anything. A lone pied-bill grebe was not a satisfactory substitute. We’re seeing finch flocks fly through but haven’t gotten a good enough look to ID them. Once again, the Detroit Lions pulled an Atomic Wedgie on their fans. When will we learn? Predictions: Tomorrow has a couple of elements that usually bode well for migration. A sharply rising barometer and the leading edge of a high-pressure-zone wind out of the north. Of course, the season is winding down and only has another week before we finish, so the four-digit count days are things of the past. Hopefully, the buteos and goldens will take advantage of the wind and come see us. It will be cold, as befits a north wind, just above freezing, so bundle up. A mostly sunny sky might help a little. ======================================================================== 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