Date: 11/3/24 4:54 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (03 Nov 2024) 1204 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 03, 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------
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, Jerry Jourdan, Johannes Postma, 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: Variable amounts of cloud and sunshine. Although the weather forecast called for easterly winds, wind direction was constantly changing. It shifted to the south ca. 11 AM, bringing hawk migration almost to standstill. Easterly winds finally arrived in late afternoon, carrying hundreds of raptors on its wings. It was slightly warmer today, up to +14C (57F). EDT changed to EST last night at mid-night.
Raptor Observations: A day of highs and lows. We reached our goal of one thousand birds, but just barely. Our earlier predictions were based on easterly winds, promised by forecasters. However, those did not materialize until 2 PM.
In the morning, we were surprised by thirteen Golden Eagles, spotted by combined efforts by Michelle, Bill and Don. For the next several hours, we saw several dozens of Red-tailed Hawks, but the number of vultures was rather negligible (if compared to the numbers we got used to). Other species also tricked in.
All this changed around 2 PM, upon arrival of the long-awaited easterlies. Within two hours, Turkey Vultures poured in, bringing Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks with them (over 700 birds overall). Almost every streaming line of vultures, contained buteos of either or both species. One Peregrine Falcon was spotted earlier in the day.
Non-raptor Observations: We ended up counting only 99 crows. Quite a drop in numbers after the thousands seen yesterday! Of interest is a sighting of large plover with a bold wing stripe (most likely the Black-bellied Plover).
Predictions: Light rain and southerly winds are expected tomorrow. Temperature may rise as high as +22C (72F). Considering all of the above, we do not foresee large number of migrating vultures and other species. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Erika Van Kirk (<erika_vankirk...>) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
