Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 13, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 49 275 275 Osprey 4 20 20 Bald Eagle 5 16 16 Northern Harrier 23 79 79 Sharp-shinned Hawk 167 1036 1036 Cooper's Hawk 3 8 8 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 13595 21709 21709 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 8 26 26 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 79 326 326 Merlin 3 14 14 Peregrine Falcon 1 4 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 13937 23514 23514 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Andrew Sturgess, Kevin Georg Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Bill Peregord, Don Sherwood, Mark Hainen, 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 fortunes of a hawk watch rise and fall with the vagaries of the winds that the birds surf on during migration. Today was a good example of the effects of slight shifts in direction and strength of the winds. The broadwings continued their mass migration and as usual they were devilishly hard to track. We spent the first hours of the watch straining to see flecks of pepper cutting across the corner of the lake as they responded to a NW wind. During the day the wind varied in strength, falling to a baby’s breath at one time, but generally staying NNW as it elevatored up and down in strength. We benefited from the changes later in the day as the direction became more favorable for our site. Temperatures stayed in a comfortable high sixties range and the humidity dropped to the fifty percent range, which was low compared to most days as of late. Burgeoning cumulus clouds, some with dark bottoms, others a dingy gray, helped us to track birds that seem to delight in deception, quickly moving as soon as you turn to tell someone where they are. All in all, a very nice fall day that was so busy, we had little time to fully appreciate. Raptor Observations: Broadwings were the star of the show again with huge tornados of swirling hawks admiring each other’s plumage before streaming off in bomber-like formations at bomber-like altitudes. You really need to have your head on a swivel to make sure that they have not filled a portion of the sky that was recently vacant. We put in a couple of hours of overtime today since the birds just kept on coming with no rest for the weary. Our clickered envoy was sent to Pte Mouille Headquarters, since the NW winds favor that site and returned with a count of 16,750 broadwings. We were able to put 13, 595 notches in the belt. The sharps-shins were not as plentiful today with 167 doing their flap and glide schtick. The kestrels were consistent with another number in the seventies, seventy-nine to be exact. Turkey vultures are still not present in the numbers that October brings, but some were seen up with the broadwings streaming alongside. Forty-nine made the tally today. Another good day for harriers as we broke the twenty barrier with twenty-three. Eight red-tails also enjoyed the air aloft. Three merlins were seen attacking all who came near, maybe they should try decaf. A peregrine falcon that we counted, also showed a flash of anger as it made a run at a harrier and then a sharpie. Three Cooper’s hawks were noted today. Five bald eagles were seen high up in the company of the broadwings. Four ospreys were on the move. Non-raptor Observations: With our necks craned to the sky, we had little time to look around for the other species, with one notable exception, the monarch butterflies were in a moving mood with 512 being counted. The gang of seven American white pelicans made another appearance up in the sky. Last year, which was an unusual year, we had much larger numbers, at times on the water in front of us. We may see more later. We are seeing groups of cormorants flying past, at one time they seemed intent on entering a large kettle of broadwings. Caspian terns continue to add to the soundtrack as the young one cries for food and the adults continue to bicker. A Forster’s tern was also noted. The sound of chainsaws and tornado-damaged trees being felled nearby reinforced my claim that this is the noisiest hawk watch in the world. Predictions: Tomorrow could be another interesting day. Winds will be light from the NE in the morning hours, turning to the SE in the afternoon hours, or so they say. Light winds may allow different flight lines since they are not quartering off a strong force. Hopefully, when they file their flight plan, it includes us as a waypoint. It should be mostly sunny with pleasant temps in the high sixties again. The barometer will be rising. On paper it all looks good, but the light winds may not stay in the same direction, or may die down, as they have the last few days. Let’s hope there are more broadwings in the pipeline to keep the sharpies, et al. company ======================================================================== 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