Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 26, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 12 2982 65219 Osprey 0 0 18 Bald Eagle 3 73 211 Northern Harrier 2 24 344 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 91 3487 Cooper's Hawk 0 41 116 American Goshawk 0 2 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 154 327 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 6785 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Red-tailed Hawk 14 1081 2012 Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 19 Golden Eagle 1 76 120 American Kestrel 0 1 410 Merlin 0 3 26 Peregrine Falcon 1 5 33 Unknown Accipiter 1 4 19 Unknown Buteo 0 18 49 Unknown Falcon 0 1 14 Unknown Eagle 0 4 7 Unknown Raptor 0 2 30 Total: 34 4567 79249 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Michael Patrikeev Observers: Bill Peregord, Don Sherwood, Jo Patterson, Michelle Peregord, Rosemary Brady Visitors: We welcome visitors to our site by the boat launch in Lake Erie Metropark. We have brochures and educational information we are happy to share. Let us share our enthusiasm for migration and raptors with you! While we welcome your questions and company, please know that our professional counter, apprentices, and volunteers must communicate with each other frequently to successfully conduct the count, and they also must maintain an unobstructed view of the horizon. Weather: We have finally been graced by blue skies after a week under a thick cloudy blanket. The west wind stayed around 20 kph all day. Luckily, we were relatively sheltered and could stay warm. The temperature rose from 5C to 7C. The barometer dropped slightly. Raptor Observations: Our second largest day this November! With 34 raptors from 6 different species, it was significantly more exciting than most days have been. Some late Turkey Vulture traveled over in small groups. 2 Harrier flew low over the lake, almost brushing the water’s surface. One was an adult male. 1 Peregrine flew high and relatively close. Bald Eagle, both local and migrants, were up most of the day. Our local pair played together over Celeron. Migrants were seen way up in the sky, moving with a purpose. An adult Golden Eagle came through inconspicuously but was caught before it crossed the seawall. Red-tails, our reliable November companion, made up almost half of our countable raptors. Non-raptor Observations: Over 150 Tundra Swan were seen. 70 American White Pelican flew up to the boat ramp, the closest they have come this year. A Common Loon and several Merganser were bobbing on Lake Erie. Dunlin flew across the water in front of us. Predictions: Tomorrow’s temperatures will be in the 30s F with light winds from the west. We expect it to be much like today. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Erika Van Kirk (erika_vankirk@fws.gov) 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