DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 10, 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 3 9 9 Osprey 4 9 9 Bald Eagle 2 9 9 Northern Harrier 2 9 9 Sharp-shinned Hawk 117 306 306 Cooper's Hawk 0 11 11 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 20 27 27 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 7 7 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 4 14 14 Merlin 1 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 1 2 2 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 154 404 404 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Jonathan Stein Observers: Don Sherwood Visitors: Rodney Laura was present in the morning before the rain. Lisa Maynard and Roberta Vyzral, both down from Waterford, kept me company during the early afternoon. Veronica Goldwater and Ed McHale dropped by later. Weather: The morning was foggy and overcast before the rain came around 10 am, interrupting the count for two hours. In the afternoon, the sky became progressively bluer and a touch of sun crept through the clouds late in the day. Winds were light and variable throughout. Raptor Observations: A late day push brought us a bunch of sharpies and the first broadwing kettle of the fall. The season's first merlin was spotted during the 12 o'clock hour. Later, another merlin jetted by the watch site at eye level but was traveling southeast to northwest and was not counted. Non-raptor Observations: There were lots of warblers in the trees around the site again this morning. A quick, cursory look produced mostly cape may and black-throated green but bay-breasted and pine were also seen. Predictions: The forecast is showing a fifty percent chance of rain for the majority of the day with light winds out of the west. If the rain fails to materialize, it should be a pretty good day. That's a big if, though, especially considering the last few days, when the rain never failed to materialize. Right now, Monday (partly cloudy, temps in the 70s and moderate west winds) looks like it could be a big day. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Greg Norwood (Greg_Norwood@fws.gov) 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.