Date: 11/4/24 5:41 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (04 Nov 2024) 4 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 04, 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Michael Patrikeev
Observers: Ben Sehl
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: A replica of the whether conditions the team experienced last Thursday, i.e., cloudy skies, threatening with rain, consistent southerly winds and unseasonably warm temperatures (at least +18C or 65F, though it felt warmer).
Raptor Observations: Our prediction from yesterday ("we do not foresee large number of migrating vultures and other species") was an understatement!
In fact, we did not see any vultures at all, and only ... four other raptors! Two were Sharp-shins, another a Northern Harrier, and ...
The fourth bird, however, was the long awaited Goose Hawk (AKA Goshawk)!
That was quite a story! A juvenile goshawk crossed the river, low over water, flying almost straight at me, coming as close as 5 meters (15 feet). It landed in a nearby tree in full view. And the camera with telephoto lens was ... you guessed right, in the car!
While, I was reaching for another camera with a shorter lens, in the backpack, the goshawk took off... Murphy's Law at work.
What can I say? It was my closest encounter with the Goshawk ever. The only consolation it was not an adult in full plumage.
The hawk did not seem to be in a particular hurry, and perhaps still could be located on the premises of the Metropark.
Non-raptor Observations: We counted 17 American Crows, and spotted a Belted Kingfisher flying over the river, and that was about it. Ring-billed and Herring Gulls fighting over perch, tossed to them by anglers, provided some entertainment. Otherwise, nearly empty skies (if we discount Canada Geese, hybrid Mallards, etc.).
Predictions: Up to +25C (77F) and strong southerly winds tomorrow. Our prediction from November 3rd still applies. See the first sentence from "Observations (Raptor related)" for details. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Erika Van Kirk (<erika_vankirk...>) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
