Date: 10/24/24 4:14 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (24 Oct 2024) 3396 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 24, 2024
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Andrew Sturgess, Jo Patterson
Observers: Bill Peregord, Don Sherwood, Erika Van Kirk, Frank Kitakis,
Jo Patterson
Visitors:
We welcome visitors to our site by the boat launch in Lake Erie MetroPark.
We are willing to spread the gospel with pamphlets and information cards,
along with tips on IDing the raptors, and photography tips for those behind
the cameras. Let us share our enthusiasm for this miracle of nature with
you.
Weather:
The winds were predicted to be unpredictable today, and once again, our
weather forecasting site that we use got it wrong, or right, depending on
your point of view. Fortunately, there was a northern component to the
morning winds and it didn’t shift to the south until the last two hours.
The blue dome that we have lived under recently continued today with only
modest attempts at cloud formation. Clear skies at this time of year mean
cold mornings, especially with northern winds, so we started the day in the
forties, reaching only the mid-fifties by the afternoon. There were
variations in wind speed as well as direction. Although the forecast had
everything remaining below 5 mph, the WNW wind peaked at 7 mph before
dropping, veering to the south and gaining strength, climbing up to nine
mph. Although the day was difficult to predict as far as migration, it
turned out for the best under the circumstances as the memo to get out of
Dodge was widely circulated and heeded.
Raptor Observations:
Silence is golden, and so were fourteen of our eagles today. Sometimes
these birds are spotted a considerable distance away due to their large
size and flight characteristics that let you feel confident in calling them
early. Then the long wait begins as they meander along, taking their sweet
time, stopping a few times to soar for a few minutes. That was not the case
today as they sped by on a wind that they found to their liking for making
time. Nearly all the birds were IDed as juveniles but one may have been a
subadult. Still a majestic sight to see in our skies and one of the many
joys of hawk watching. Of course, Cathartes Aura will still carry the day
in October. The light winds were not promising in the first couple of
hours, but as they increased in strength the turkey vultures took
advantage. The later southern winds made counting them more challenging as
the flight line changed from one that passed over our heads to one that
passed over another Zip Code. Nevertheless, we managed to snag three
thousand, one hundred and fifty-two of them by day’s end. The red-tailed
hawks were motivated today, one hundred and thirty-two of them flew along
with the vultures. Sharp-shins are still moving but their best days are
behind them. Sixty-two were counted today. Red-shouldered hawks and
Northern harriers were tied at eleven for the same level on the totem pole.
Five bald eagles were seen when the birds were flying up high on the
lighter winds. Two species of falcon were represented today with one
peregrine and five kestrels making good time on the winds. One rough-legged
hawk of the light-morph persuasion was enjoyed by the assembled clan. A
single broad-winged hawk was also seen.
Non-raptor Observations:
Pelicans, everybody’s WTH? bird, were seen in smallish numbers today.
That is a bird that consistently shocks non-birders with their presence in
Michigan. The ducks, mostly mallards, were active in the morning hours.
Cormorants still seem to be migrating in straggly vees. It was a fairly
quiet day on the “others” front. Swallows and gulls were the main
occupants of the sky besides the migrants which we were busy counting.
Predictions:
Tomorrow has a number of negative signs. The barometer will be dropping,
the winds will be southerly, albeit light, and cloud cover will increase
with a threat of rain. The threat of rain has seemed to be diminishing as
the week has progressed so it may not materialize at all, so bring your
foul weather gear. I suspect that Saturday will be a better day as the
barometer rebounds and northern winds will return. They will however be
fairly strong from the northwest and that favors our Canadian colleagues at
Holiday Beach. Hopefully, we can both share a good count on that day.
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Report submitted by Andrew Sturgess (<ajyes72...>)
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
