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
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 Feldmanâs 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 armâs length,
or eyeâs 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 ospreyâs 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.
Forsterâs 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, itâs really hard to say what may happen.
Temperatures should be comfortable even though the day may be dull in
appearance
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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