DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 26, 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1439 38859 39376 Osprey 0 16 85 Bald Eagle 0 75 172 Northern Harrier 3 105 207 Sharp-shinned Hawk 24 2718 5129 Cooper's Hawk 11 493 592 Northern Goshawk 1 5 5 Red-shouldered Hawk 6 57 59 Broad-winged Hawk 0 642 195858 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Red-tailed Hawk 47 504 582 Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 5 Golden Eagle 1 23 23 American Kestrel 2 252 656 Merlin 0 8 19 Peregrine Falcon 0 5 18 Unknown Accipiter 2 36 50 Unknown Buteo 1 19 19 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 0 2 2 Unknown Raptor 1 12 16 Total: 1538 43836 242880 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Jim Lynch, Rodney Laura Visitors: Mike O'Leary spent the better part of the day at the watch and was a big help spotting birds. Weather: The sunny blue skies that greeted us to start the day were quickly transformed into a completely gray ceiling as a battalion of thick, ominous-looking clouds rolled in. Luckily for us, the rain held off until the conclusion of the watch and we managed to get a full day in. There were even a few times when there was a tiny amount of clearing. The wind was light to moderate and out of the northwest then the north late. Raptor Observations: Lots of silhouettes to spot streaming out high overhead today. The turkey vultures got going around noon and brought with them a good number of red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks. Of note was the addition of one more northern goshawk and one more golden eagle to the season total. Non-raptor Observations: A red-headed woodpecker flew across the channel around 930 am. Another loon was seen flying overhead today, this one headed southeast. Also, four bonaparte's gulls spent most of the afternoon loafing about the channel. Predictions: There's a 40 percent chance of rain all day tomorrow. It'll be overcast in the morning with the potential for some clearing in the afternoon. The winds will again be favorable: out of the north and then shifting northwest later on. If the rain never materializes, we should see a good deal of movement. ======================================================================== 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.