Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 24, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1955 79133 81266 Osprey 0 2 53 Bald Eagle 2 23 95 Northern Harrier 4 101 456 Sharp-shinned Hawk 169 2731 6484 Cooper's Hawk 1 39 50 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 169 169 Broad-winged Hawk 0 108 107690 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1 Red-tailed Hawk 166 741 827 Rough-legged Hawk 1 9 9 Golden Eagle 2 5 5 American Kestrel 5 287 1272 Merlin 2 11 42 Peregrine Falcon 0 20 40 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: 2311 83380 198461 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, Bill Peregord, Don Sherwood, Jackie Quinones, Mark Hainen, Rosemary Brady, 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: “Breathe deep the gathering gloom, watch lights fade from every room.” OK, OK, technically we had plenty of light today with mostly blue skies, but our vision was still impaired by the atmospheric distortion caused by the lake’s evaporation. “But we decide which is right, and which is an illusion” took on real meaning as the southern wind moved the birds north into the worst of the shimmering gossamer sky. The temperatures did break the seventy-mark by a smidge, but when the wind shifted more SE, it was time to put the coats back on. The wind stayed close to the eight-mph mark on the speedometer. The barometer fell about a tenth, as cloudy, and possibly rainy weather will move in over the next week. Raptor Observations: Given the conditions, we had a respectable day, but it was harder than usual to ID a lot of the birds. Turkey vultures were well off to the north in the haze, but their distinct manner of flight is their tell, even when they are mere dots. We ended the day with 1,955. Sharpies barely beat out red-tails for the silver medal with 169 fluttering by, compared to 166 for the larger buteo. Red-tails were in a moving mood today and we would have preferred to see them closer for photographic purposes. We had rather puny numbers for the other species with kestrels coming in just off the podium with five birds. Four northern harriers made the grade. Two merlins were seen raising hell, as is their wont. Four red-shouldered hawks were noted. Two bald eagles were counted. Saving the best for last, we had two golden eagles today and another beautiful dark-morph rough-legged hawk. Non-raptor Observations: Five sandhill cranes were noted flying together this morning. Pied-billed grebes are still actively diving for prey. Common and Forster’s terns are still present. A couple of Bonaparte’s gulls flew by but they have been reported in large numbers at Pte. Mouille Headquarters. The osprey that has been hanging around was not seen today but we will keep an eye open for it in the next few days. Crows flew by today but not in huge numbers, a few hundred were noted. Blue jays are still being seen in much smaller numbers. More blackbird flocks are being seen in the early morning hours, mostly starlings and red-winged blackbirds. Monarchs had an uptick with seven seen today. Predictions: Temperatures will drop about ten degrees tomorrow and cloud cover should be near complete. Rain showers are possible in the later part of the day but the chances, as of now, are around thirty percent. Winds will be slightly stronger tomorrow, again from the SW. Not good. The haze may be diminished a little tomorrow with cloud cover and lower temperatures lessening the evaporation, but the northern view will still be hazy, and that’s where the birds will be flying. ======================================================================== 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