Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 03, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 414 2358 92986 Osprey 0 0 53 Bald Eagle 0 8 118 Northern Harrier 3 6 476 Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 35 6826 Cooper's Hawk 0 1 59 American Goshawk 0 0 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 18 295 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 107691 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Red-tailed Hawk 7 132 1526 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 17 Golden Eagle 0 4 17 American Kestrel 1 2 1286 Merlin 0 1 47 Peregrine Falcon 2 4 53 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: 434 2571 211456 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Sam Heilman 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: We rang down the curtain a few minutes early today, but the last aria had been sung, and the Rubenesque lady, like Elvis, had departed the building long ago. SW winds, especially at the speeds we experienced today, are never promising; this one delivered on that non-promise. Wind speeds varied during the day from eight mph to eighteen mph, but not in a linear fashion, as they rose and fell with frequent gusts included. The day was pleasant enough at the start with the sun’s rays helping to warm us, but when the clouds rolled in between two and three pm, it felt like the temperature had dropped considerably, although in reality, it had not. It did reach the fifty-seven degree mark, but take away the sun and increase the wind speed and there was little comfort there. The barometer stayed above thirty inches, but at the end of the day, the full stratus layer of dull gray cloud did not give that impression. Raptor Observations: We had some early vultures that showed in the second and third hour, but after that, they were hard to find. We ended with 414 at the end of the watch. Sharp-shins and red-tailed hawks tied for second place with seven apiece. That averages to one per hour of the watch; that’s not exciting. Three harriers were noted. A pair were flying fairly close together over Celeron Island when our first peregrine took a run at one of them. We did see another peregrine later, to total two of that species. One kestrel was also noted. It was a slow day that got progressively worse as the day wore on. Non-raptor Observations: Our main job of the day, since we had some time on our hands, was to locate the little gull for visitors. Thankfully, the bird was cooperative and would make dramatic entrances after a few minutes of suspense. The lake was rough today but flights of ducks, probably scaup, and a small raft of coots were seen braving the whitecaps. A small group of Bonaparte’s gulls were busy in the slip today. A Forster’s tern was also noted foraging in the slip. Some shorebirds were seen today; a small number of semipalmated sandpipers flew by, a larger flock of dunlin, and a few greater yellowlegs were seen on the mudflats on the way out of the park. Predictions: Tomorrow offers a glimmer of hope in the fact that the winds, although remaining from the south, will be much lower, staying in below five mph range that often translates to variable and insignificant. The barometer will remain above thirty inches for a couple more days. Cloud cover will take up most of the sky, keeping the temperatures about five degrees lower than today, in the lower fifties. The lower wind speeds should mean better traffic than today as the usual suspects will be facing a lower hurdle to reach their goal. ======================================================================== 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