Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 03, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier 6 7 7 Sharp-shinned Hawk 10 11 11 Cooper's Hawk 3 3 3 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 144 149 149 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 13 13 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 5 16 16 Merlin 1 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Total: 169 202 202 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Andrew Sturgess, Michael Patrikeev Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Ben Sehl, Bill and Michelle Peregord, Jerry Jourdan, Mark Hainen, Michael Patrikeev Visitors: We welcome visitors to our site by the boat launch in Lake Erie MetroPark. We are willing to spread the gospel with pamphlets and information cards, along with tips on IDing the raptors, and photography tips for those behind the cameras. Let us share our enthusiasm for this miracle of nature with you. Weather: The winds, although erratic again, eased off the gas a little today and actually, due to an eastern element, pushed a few birds inland and closer to us. Rising and falling, at times seeming directionless when at a low ebb, it was still sufficient to provide enough lift for the feathered friends that we love to see. The wind strength was generally just above five mph but it had peaks and valleys. Temperatures were just above seventy, at their peak. The wind off the lake had a tempering effect on a sunny sky that had very thin icy clouds, most generated at 30,000 feet by the spreading of jet’s contrails. We will miss days like this when the gales of November blow early. Raptor Observations: We finally reached triple digits today with streams of birds that were sparse and wide-spread enough to keep you on your toes. The broadwings were on the move, but a lot of them were solo birds, or very small groups. They did take the top step of the podium today with one hundred and forty-four counted. In a distant second place were ten sharpies. Northern harriers barely pipped the kestrels for third place with six, compared to five kestrels. Cooper’s hawks numbered three juvies. A merlin was discovered, sitting in a dead tree behind us, feasting on the remains of a swallow. You may be fast and elusive but falcons are very fast too. Lots of eagle and turkey vultures were up cruising around but we don’t start counting the vultures till they kettle and stream later in the month. The eagles are locals that are not moving and are seen on a daily basis. Non-raptor Observations: Our first penguins, excuse me, I meant to say pelicans, were seen today. Twelve were spotted out over the lake and later a pair were seen soaring over Brain Tree. The occasional great blue heron is seen flying by. Its white counterpart, the great egret, is assembling in the marsh in fairly big numbers and one will give us a flyby from time to time. Kingfishers were seen hovering and diving today. They seem to have better luck than the local ospreys, at least today. Cedar waxwings seem highly focused and active again, but watch out for that merlin guys. We also saw the local Coop stoop in a successful plunge into the trees. We had a short visit from a house finch that seemed out of place on the breakwall. Predictions: Tomorrow looks to be hotter by a few degrees. With winds predicted to be south-easterly and climbing during the watch, hopefully we will have the air-conditioning effect of an onshore lake breeze. The range is predicted to be from two to eight mph. Skies should be sunny as we are still in the high-pressure zone with the barometer staying above 30 inches by a couple of tenths. It should start a very slow descent in the afternoon hours as rain is predicted on Friday. The winds may help us by pushing the birds inland but its possible the biggest push has passed for this weather system. At least for us that is, there were birds to the north of us today on a different flight line and a SE wind might push them further in that direction. ======================================================================== 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