Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 25, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1 3424 89249 Osprey 0 0 52 Bald Eagle 0 56 160 Northern Harrier 0 34 496 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 186 6886 Cooper's Hawk 1 31 85 American Goshawk 0 3 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 5 234 459 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 103456 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Red-tailed Hawk 17 2169 3481 Rough-legged Hawk 0 7 20 Golden Eagle 1 122 133 American Kestrel 0 5 1276 Merlin 0 12 58 Peregrine Falcon 0 16 63 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: 25 6299 205882 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Kevin Georg Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Bill Peregord, Don Sherwood, Michelle Peregord, 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: The movement of hawks was not significant today but the cloud migration was a lesson on how a low-pressure enters your neighborhood. A progression of faint cirrus clouds started the transition, offering variations of delicate artistic style. The cumulus clouds, at first high cirrocumulus, and then lower cumulus gathered over time and we were left with a pale Jackson Pollack collage of various shapes and sizes at different altitudes. Eventually the solid stratus layer filled in with a darker tone of gray, making the blue skies and sunshine of the early hours of the watch a fond memory. Winds were variable and generally light, especially in the morning hours when it was difficult to detect, during that time, the wind turbines in Canada were stilled. Temperatures reached five degrees above the freezing point at which it had started the day. The barometer started to fall and will continue through tomorrow when, at this point, rain and snow are predicted. Raptor Observations: The light winds kept most birds at home today. It was only when they started to build a little that we saw some movement. There was plenty of dead air space today. Seventeen red-tailed hawks passed by, bringing five red-shouldered hawks along for the ride. One turkey vulture was noted. One Cooper’s hawk passed through in a determined manner. One golden eagle, in the company of three buteos at one time, also flew by high in the sky. Non-raptor Observations: A small group of Eastern bluebirds made a brief stop near us this morning. Our pet little gull is still out there, in the late afternoon it chose to make an appearance. Tundra swans were heard passing high overhead, whooping their way south. Hooded mergansers were whizzing by today, mostly solo birds. A pair of loons were spotted out by the rock jetty this morning diving for fish. Bonaparte’s gulls continue to entertain as they fish nearby. Predictions: Tomorrow looks like a bad day to hold a hawk watch. Snow and rain are predicted for most of the day. The barometer will fall into the 29.7 range and winds will be accelerating out of the southwest. The high winds and low temperatures will be challenging for the final days of the watch. It doesn’t look like any favorable winds are forecast for our site with the speeds staying in the ten to fifteen mph range all week. ======================================================================== 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