Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 11, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1 2840 64414 Osprey 0 0 18 Bald Eagle 3 54 192 Northern Harrier 0 17 336 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 78 3469 Cooper's Hawk 2 27 102 American Goshawk 1 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 140 306 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 6785 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 902 1831 Rough-legged Hawk 0 4 18 Golden Eagle 0 72 116 American Kestrel 0 1 403 Merlin 0 2 25 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 31 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 17 Unknown Buteo 0 8 39 Unknown Falcon 0 0 13 Unknown Eagle 0 3 6 Unknown Raptor 1 2 30 Total: 14 4157 78154 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Michael Patrikeev Observers: Visitors: We welcome visitors to our site by the boat launch in Lake Erie Metropark. We have brochures and educational information we are happy to share. Let us share our enthusiasm for migration and raptors with you! While we welcome your questions and company, please know that our professional counter, apprentices, and volunteers must communicate with each other frequently to successfully conduct the count, and they also must maintain an unobstructed view of the horizon. Weather: Westerly winds, constantly shifting between south-west and west; up to 26 km/hr (16 mi/hr). Overcast, but some clear sky around 3 PM. Temperature up to +13C (55F). Raptor Observations: A rather disappointing day with only 14 raptors seen. All three species of Accipiter (or, if you prefer, two Astur and one Accipiter) were observed between 11 AM and noon. Although I entered the juvenile Goshawk in the form, I begin to wonder whether it was the bird seen at the count site last Monday, and a day earlier in Gibraltar. The American Goshawk is a rare guest in this area. Perhaps this juvenile will stay for the winter, or at least, for a while; it seems to be patrolling a territory. Look for an accipiter the size of small buteo. Non-raptor Observations: Fifty-five American Crows and one Blue Jay counted. Carolina Wren was heard singing after a few days of silence. Several solitary Killdeer in the air. A small tern (probably Common Tern) was seen chasing a Cooper's Hawk! Predictions: Clear skies and cool temperatures (up to +9C) are forecast for November 12th, along with strong northeastern winds.. If this comes true, then tomorrow might be a day to witness perhaps the last big wave of passing raptors this fall. However, wind forecasts were not very relaible lately. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Erika Van Kirk (erika_vankirk@fws.gov) 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