Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 15, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 39 350 350 Osprey 4 28 28 Bald Eagle 8 39 39 Northern Harrier 65 183 183 Sharp-shinned Hawk 744 2048 2048 Cooper's Hawk 0 8 8 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 5093 52992 52992 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 3 38 38 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 99 539 539 Merlin 4 21 21 Peregrine Falcon 0 5 5 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: 6059 56252 56252 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours Official Counter: Kevin Georg Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Mark Hainen, Patrick Mulawa 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: N, E, ENE, W, NNW, WNW, N, SE, S. SSW, S: these are the directions that the wind blew today. Nothing of any real substance until it started climbing in strength when it settled in the south, reaching nine mph. This, of course, is not our favorite wind as it pushes the broadwings off to the distant north. Other than the schizophrenic wind, it was a pleasant day, as temperatures stayed near the seventy-degree mark and the cloud cover was moderate and sometimes helpful. The wind also pushes the lake evaporation haze in the same direction as the birds. This makes it even more difficult to spot their slender profiles as they stream from kettle to kettle. (My left eye now resembles Marty Feldman’s as a result of straining to locate birds through the scope.) The barometer started to fall, as it will for a couple of days, with possible rain coming on Sunday. Raptor Observations: Although the broadwings outnumbered the rest of the birds by an order of magnitude, somehow it really felt more like a sharp-shin day as they reached new heights with 744 of them racing by. The broadwings numbered 5093, but those were hard earned numbers as they stayed at arm’s length, or eye’s length, if you prefer, for most of the day. It may be that we missed a portion as they were not easy to see. The kestrels nearly broke the century mark, but fell short by a single bird at ninety-nine counted. We continue to see large numbers of harriers with sixty-five making the tally today. Turkey vultures are wandering through in small numbers and thirty-nine were noted today. Bald eagles continue to move in larger numbers than usual with eight pumping through today. We also seem to be in the osprey’s flyway this year with another four noted today. Merlins numbered four today, and red-tailed hawks brought up the rear with three of their number making the tabulator. Non-raptor Observations: We saw more American white pelicans today with about fifteen noted. Our largest number so far, but I suspect there are more in the offing. Forster’s terns and Caspian terns ae trying to put a dent in the minnow population, diving with abandon at their targets. The great egrets and great blue herons are becoming more vocal for some reason, sounding like an old man trying to return soup to the deli. The cormorants continue to harass the fish population when possible. Our vole population seems to be growing with them popping out from time to time to satisfy their jones for fresh grass. Another good monarch day with 482 counted. Predictions: Who knows what tomorrow may bring? Winds are forecast to be light and multidirectional again, but that means they are virtually unpredictable. Nothing has been as predicted the last few days. The cloud cover should be almost complete and the barometer will be falling as the wet weather system approaches. The general direction of the wind is predicted to be southerly but light. Perhaps if it stays light, we may see some broadwings, but I suspect that sharpies, harriers and kestrels may be our most frequent birds. Since we are at the mercy of the winds and the forecasts have been off the mark this week, it’s really hard to say what may happen. Temperatures should be comfortable even though the day may be dull in appearance ======================================================================== 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