Date: 10/19/24 3:47 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (19 Oct 2024) 354 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 19, 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Michael Patrikeev
Observers: Bill and Michelle Peregord, Don Sherwood, Jo Patterson, Mark Hainen
Visitors: We welcome visitors to our site by the boat launch in Lake Erie Metro Park. 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: Sunny, with light southerly winds in late morning and afternoon (wind velocity did not exceed 6 km or 4 miles per hour). Temperature rose to +17C or 63F.
Raptor Observations: A very slow day with only 354 birds counted. Of those, 314 were Turkey Vultures. We also saw 30 Sharp-shinned Hawks, six Red-tails and two harriers.
Non-raptor Observations: Slow day for corvid migration as well; only 110 Blue Jays and 104 American Crows counted. Around 100 White Pelicans soared over their usual hideout at Celeron. Sandhill Cranes were heard, but not seen. A single Bonaparte's Gull was fishing near the boat launch, and its Ring-billed cousins were noisily chasing each other over a tiny fish caught by one of them.
Predictions: We expect warm, almost summer-like weather (at least in the afternoon) tomorrow and on Monday, with winds coming from the south-west. Under these conditions, we do not anticipate seeing a lot of hawks and vultures. Perhaps a few hundred birds. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Erika Van Kirk (<erika_vankirk...>) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
