Date: 10/29/24 4:48 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (29 Oct 2024) 302 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 29, 2024
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Michael Patrikeev
Observers: Ben Sehl, Bill Peregord, Jo Patterson
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 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:
Today was blustery one at the count site with wind out of the southwest
averaging as high as 16 mph (26 km/h) and even higher gusts. Despite the
high winds, it was warm with a comfortable high of 73 F (23 C). It was
partly cloudy throughout the day with a distant haze.
Raptor Observations:
As we expected (and feared!) based on the weather, the raptors were largely
absent from the count site today. Warm temperatures and high southwestern
winds generally indicate few birds flying overhead. The conditions left us
with just 302 total migrating raptors counted. The low total count didn’t
mean there was no excitement! The 281 turkey vultures that we did see were
pushed low by the wind and made for some good views. There were 11
red-tailed hawks interspersed with the meager streams of vultures and we
enjoyed spending time looking closely at each bird. In our meticulous
combing through of vultures, we delighted to find the dark silhouettes of 2
golden eagles. A couple falcons made quick visits as well. A kestrel
whizzed by frantically fighting the wind and its larger relative, the
peregrine falcon, flew low over the channel managing the windy conditions a
bit better. Our only other migrating raptors consisted of 3 sharp-shinned
hawks, a determined bald eagle, and a couple distant buteos distorted by
haze.
Non-raptor Observations:
While watching the diving of Forster’s terns and their allies, the
Bonaparte’s gulls, we saw them scatter at the approach of the peregrine
falcon. In between that excitement and counting raptors, the long stretches
of birdless time left us to ponder the behaviors and identities of other
count site creatures. We admired (and related to) a northern water snake
relaxing in the sun to warm up. The valiant counters fended off a barrage
of Asian lady beetles trying their best to get into pockets, bags, scopes,
hats and anywhere else they could find. A handsome parasitic wasp took a
rest on a water bottle. All of this while the leaves our beloved maple
began to cover the ground around us.
Predictions:
Tomorrow is shaping up to be a similar day to today, with warm temperatures
and possibly even higher winds. We are not expecting large movements of
birds until these winds shift and things cool down but as we discussed at
the count site today, these birds have to fly sometime!
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Report submitted by Erika Van Kirk (<erika_vankirk...>)
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
