Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 10, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 696 7324 9457 Osprey 0 2 53 Bald Eagle 1 6 78 Northern Harrier 2 50 405 Sharp-shinned Hawk 34 680 4437 Cooper's Hawk 0 11 22 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 8 8 Broad-winged Hawk 2 35 107617 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 3 62 148 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 11 235 1220 Merlin 0 5 36 Peregrine Falcon 2 9 29 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 751 8427 123512 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Andrew Sturgess, Kevin Georg Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Jackie Quinones, Kevin Georg, Mark Hainen 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: Move along folks, nothing to see here. That seemed to be the theme of the day as we got off to a very slow start in the morning hours. Wind speed had dropped from yesterday to just above the five-mph mark. Still coming from the west while leaning a little more south of that, it caused to birds to take alternate routes after they had recalculated. Cloud cover was dense and complete for most of the day, with occasional hints of blue that were soon replaced with even darker gray stratus clouds that eventually did drop some light rain. Temperatures broke the fifty-degree barrier but only by a couple of degrees. The lack of wind made the cooler temps more tolerable, even without the sun to help. The barometer stayed in the 29.7” range all day. A very dull day in both appearance and bird activity. Raptor Observations: Turkey vultures led the way, as is their custom in October, but we were beginning to wonder if they were taking the day off as it took three hours to get two of them. They picked up the pace in the afternoon hours but it was still a disappointing day with 696 of them being noted. At times they would change direction ninety-degrees, tacking into the wind while taking a zig-zag path, lengthening the mileage traveled to reach their final destination. Sharp-shins were having an easier day of flying, but not many of them showed up on this particular wind. Only thirty-four made the clicker today. Kestrels were also reluctant to come our way with eleven on the day. Only three red-tails flew by, flapping more than is customary in the lighter winds. Two broad-winged hawks with anxious looks on their faces passed by, apparently wondering if they had missed the memo to leave in September. Only two harriers were observed today as they found a different route more to their liking. A pair of peregrine falcons were seen looking for a meal as they passed. One bald eagle was deemed to be a migrant, although the local eagles have been very active the last few days. Non-raptor Observations: The shoveler ducks were active today, at times taking flight as an eagle passed overhead, then returning to their feeding spots. The kingfisher was hovering in front of us today. Small flights of cormorants are seen frequently, but the large mass gatherings seem to have ceased. Both common and Forster’s terns were seen today, diving with reckless abandon after their small prey. The Caspian tern is still present. Many great egrets were observed in the marsh as the western winds have kept the water level lower than usual, concentrating the small fish into a tighter area. Our voles, or at least two of them, have reemerged in the last couple of days. Jackie is intent on feeding them by hand, as one in particular, does not seem too concerned with human presence. Blue jays were on the light side with 800 counted, most in the morning hours. Monarchs are down to single digits as we noted six today. Predictions: Temperatures should hit the sixty-degree mark tomorrow and the sun should be visible for part of the afternoon. Unfortunately, the winds, although remaining in the moderate 5-8 mph range, will have more of a southwestern flavor than today. This may warm the air a little but is not usually good for bird traffic. The barometer will be climbing, but not significantly. Some light rain is in the forecast over the next few days and the winds will turn to a more favorable NE direction. We will have to see how that plays out since those rain forecasts have not been totally reliable. “Missed it by that much”, as Maxwell Smart would say. ======================================================================== 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