Detroit River Hawk Watch (17 Sep 2021) 342 Raptors

R
reports@hawkcount.org
Fri, Sep 17, 2021 10:45 PM

Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 17, 2021

Species            Day's Count    Month Total  Season Total


Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture              0            38            38
Osprey                      0            16            16
Bald Eagle                  0            12            12
Northern Harrier            4            65            65
Sharp-shinned Hawk        316            607            607
Cooper's Hawk                0              3              3
Northern Goshawk            0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk          0              0              0
Broad-winged Hawk            8          11612          11612
Swainson's Hawk              0              0              0
Red-tailed Hawk              0            21            21
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              0
Golden Eagle                0              0              0
American Kestrel            14            313            313
Merlin                      0              3              3
Peregrine Falcon            0            10            10
Unknown Accipiter            0              0              0
Unknown Buteo                0              1              1
Unknown Falcon              0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor              0              0              0

Total:                    342          12701          12701

Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end  time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Kevin Georg

Observers:        Andrew Sturgess, Mark Hainen

Visitors:
We are still dealing with the residue of the Covid 19 situation. The
workers at the site will be in an enclosed area that is designed for four
people only. We still love to interact and share our love of hawk watching
with visitors. Feel free to ask questions and look over our shoulders to
help you follow the birds. Watch the weather for favorable forecasts as the
birds are predictable to some degree based on weather situations.
One other thing of note this year; the boat-launch bathroom building has
been shut down for the foreseeable future due to plumbing issues. There are
Porta-Johns in the parking lot should you require them.

Weather:
We decided to feature one species today, concentrating on the sharp-shinned
hawk; or so it would appear. Another warm day in the eighties with winds
that gradually worked up in strength to just under ten mph. It was the
direction of the wind, from the S mostly, that seemed to seal our fate
today. Barometer was mostly steady, falling as the watch came to an end,
but still north of thirty inches. Skies were mostly clear of clouds
although we had a fair amount of haze and pretty high humidity to match.
The barometer will continue to drop a little during the evening but should
rebound for tomorrow.

Raptor Observations:
As I mentioned, today was Sharp-shinned hawk Day. They started in the third
hour and came in good numbers for three hours, tapering off towards the end
of the day. The S wind had picked up and the barometer was starting to drop
but we still had out best day with this species with three hundred and
sixteen counted. As for the other species, meh. Four harriers were noted.
Only fourteen kestrels were seen today after north of one hundred
yesterday. This seemed a little surprising since kestrels and sharpies
usually go together. We had a decent day with broad-wings the last two days
but today was a bust with only eight noted. This was a very sharpie-centric
day.

Non-raptor Observations:
The sky was pretty clear today except for sharp-shins. We did have a flight
of about twenty killdeers make a brief appearance near our site, almost
landing very close by. The Forster’s terns were back in their normal
roosting spot on the entrance buoy to the boat channel. Gulls and swallows
were not close by today but tomorrow is another day.

Predictions:
Tomorrow seems to have today’s “strikes-against-it” reversed. The
barometer will be rising off its lows this evening. The winds will be NE
(our favorite wind) at a fairly moderate strength. What’s not to like?
Cloud cover may be fairly heavy in the morning and clearing later. This
weekend would normally be the Hawk Fest and usually, historically they have
one good broadwing day.  Let’s hope that the tradition continues and
tomorrow will be that day. Sunday has different less favorable winds,
although still at a moderate level, so anything is possible.


---======
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-2021

Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 17, 2021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 38 38 Osprey 0 16 16 Bald Eagle 0 12 12 Northern Harrier 4 65 65 Sharp-shinned Hawk 316 607 607 Cooper's Hawk 0 3 3 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 8 11612 11612 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 21 21 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 14 313 313 Merlin 0 3 3 Peregrine Falcon 0 10 10 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 342 12701 12701 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Kevin Georg Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Mark Hainen Visitors: We are still dealing with the residue of the Covid 19 situation. The workers at the site will be in an enclosed area that is designed for four people only. We still love to interact and share our love of hawk watching with visitors. Feel free to ask questions and look over our shoulders to help you follow the birds. Watch the weather for favorable forecasts as the birds are predictable to some degree based on weather situations. One other thing of note this year; the boat-launch bathroom building has been shut down for the foreseeable future due to plumbing issues. There are Porta-Johns in the parking lot should you require them. Weather: We decided to feature one species today, concentrating on the sharp-shinned hawk; or so it would appear. Another warm day in the eighties with winds that gradually worked up in strength to just under ten mph. It was the direction of the wind, from the S mostly, that seemed to seal our fate today. Barometer was mostly steady, falling as the watch came to an end, but still north of thirty inches. Skies were mostly clear of clouds although we had a fair amount of haze and pretty high humidity to match. The barometer will continue to drop a little during the evening but should rebound for tomorrow. Raptor Observations: As I mentioned, today was Sharp-shinned hawk Day. They started in the third hour and came in good numbers for three hours, tapering off towards the end of the day. The S wind had picked up and the barometer was starting to drop but we still had out best day with this species with three hundred and sixteen counted. As for the other species, meh. Four harriers were noted. Only fourteen kestrels were seen today after north of one hundred yesterday. This seemed a little surprising since kestrels and sharpies usually go together. We had a decent day with broad-wings the last two days but today was a bust with only eight noted. This was a very sharpie-centric day. Non-raptor Observations: The sky was pretty clear today except for sharp-shins. We did have a flight of about twenty killdeers make a brief appearance near our site, almost landing very close by. The Forster’s terns were back in their normal roosting spot on the entrance buoy to the boat channel. Gulls and swallows were not close by today but tomorrow is another day. Predictions: Tomorrow seems to have today’s “strikes-against-it” reversed. The barometer will be rising off its lows this evening. The winds will be NE (our favorite wind) at a fairly moderate strength. What’s not to like? Cloud cover may be fairly heavy in the morning and clearing later. This weekend would normally be the Hawk Fest and usually, historically they have one good broadwing day. Let’s hope that the tradition continues and tomorrow will be that day. Sunday has different less favorable winds, although still at a moderate level, so anything is possible. ======================================================================== 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-2021