Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 08, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 22 22 22 Osprey 1 1 1 Bald Eagle 2 3 3 Northern Harrier 4 8 8 Sharp-shinned Hawk 28 43 43 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 14 31 31 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 19 31 31 Merlin 0 4 4 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 90 143 143 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Kevin Georg Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Bill Peregord, Mark Hainen 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: If you think of a cornucopia as a wind vane, a NE wind turns its bountiful, overflowing mouth towards our site. Today was a day of transition from yesterday’s low pressure that was losing out to the new high-pressure system advancing to the east. Cloud cover was nearly complete except for one blue porthole that came late in the day and made little impression. The wind started in the north and tried to work its way east a little, though at times it was a “cowran, tim’rous beastie” that provided little aerodynamic lift for the birds, forcing them to fly higher than we prefer as they sought stronger winds aloft. Temperatures were as forecast and did not reach the seventy-degree mark, falling short by a couple of degrees. The barometer was rising with one little correction during the day and will continue to climb tomorrow. Raptor Observations: We had a slow but unsteady trickle of birds today with seven species making the clicker. Broadwings, numbering fourteen, were seen for the first time since day one of the watch but not in any large groups. Solo birds continue to make up the majority of sightings. We did count twenty-two turkey vultures today, which is early since they usually start in the last week in September in earnest. The ones we counted were on the usual migratory trail from Canada, but only in small groups. Sharpies and kestrels were flying high above us barely visible to the naked eye. Twenty-eight sharpies and nineteen kestrels made the journey. We counted two bald eagles and one osprey today. Harriers were also flying high above us today with four counted. Non-raptor Observations: Our best monarch butterfly day by far; we spotted seventy fluttering by on their long journey. The same winds that bring raptors also bring the butterflies. We expected a good day, and so it was. Fewer warblers were seen today at the site, mostly yellow-rumps and Cape Mays. Kingfishers continue to be active. Our great blue heron continues to be inactive, standing motionless for hours. The Carolina wren was singing a medley of its greatest hits today. Cormorants were back in force, and we noticed a flying vee of them that may have been migrating from elsewhere. (As if we need more.) Swallows and swifts were up in the stratosphere today where the insects must be hanging out. It seemed that we are seeing more groups of flying Canada geese but none of them seem to be headed south, unfortunately. Predictions: Tomorrow looks to be a promising day with NE winds that will be more consistent in strength and closer to the sweet spot that we like. It’s a combination of wind direction and speed that determines our count for the day and like Goldilocks’ preferences, they need to be just right for the best results. The cloud cover should mostly clear during the overnight hours. Twenty to thirty percent of the sky will remain occupied. Temperatures are forecast to hit, but not exceed, the seventy-degree mark. It looks like a one- layer day with cooling winds from the NE but the sun to counteract them. ======================================================================== 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