Date: 10/23/24 5:15 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (23 Oct 2024) 596 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 23, 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Michael Patrikeev
Observers: Jerry Jourdan, Jo Patterson, Mark Hainen
Visitors: We welcome visitors to our site by the boat launch in Lake Erie Metropark! Come visit us for ID tips and other educational information. While we welcome your questions and company, please know 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: The blue dome that we have been trapped under has finally passed! The sky remained overcast all day, and a morning WSW breeze swung around to WNW in the afternoon. The barometer rose from 29.89 to 29.93. Temperatures remained stable, rising only from 17-19C (63-66F).
Raptor Observations: The morning started off pretty slow, but the Turkey Vultures soon began to trickle in! We recorded 555 vultures. They were never inclined to kettle, just simply sliding across the treetops. Sharpies were the only other species above single digits: 24 birds flew low in the wind. A handful of other species were observed: 7 Red-tail, 2 Bald Eagle, 1 Kestrel, 1 Golden Eagle, and Rough-Legged. Pictures of the Golden Eagle and Rough-Legged can be found on our Facebook!
Non-raptor Observations: No corvids were seen today. Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers are still being reported on the trail.
Predictions: Tomorrow should bring light and variable wind, clear skies, and temperatures between 40F and 60F. We hope to see a larger movement of raptors, tomorrow and the rest of the week, as the weather cools. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Erika Van Kirk (<erika_vankirk...>) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
