Date: 11/22/24 4:18 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (22 Nov 2024) 14 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 22, 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Michael Patrikeev
Observers: 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 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: Light rain during the first and last hours of the count; strong winds from the north-west, reaching 28 km/hour (17 mi/hr) at times. Temperature rose from +4C in the morning to +8C in the afternoon (from 39 to 46F).
Raptor Observations: We were optimistic in the morning, after seeing five species in a row, arriving one after another. Those were Northern Harrier (male), Bald Eagle (immature), Cooper's Hawk (a transient), Red-shouldered Hawk (adult), and Golden Eagle (adult). The Golden Eagle came relatively close and was not in any hurry to leave. Red-tailed Hawks appeared at ca. 11 AM, and, at the end, "outnumbered" all other species (six were seen). Two or three adult Bald Eagles hunted relatively close to the observers today, perhaps encouraged by the paucity of people on the parking lot and in general. One caught a bullhead, without investing too much effort. Another circled nearby, clearly seeing something in the water, but drew ire of several large gulls and was escorted by them out of the area.
Non-raptor Observations: Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, American Tree sparrows; one Belted Kingfisher.
Predictions: Weather conditions is unlikely to change tomorrow, i.e., we should expect cloudy skies, winds from north-west and west, a temperatures below +8C (46F). We anticipate a repetition of today's scenario, in other words, few birds, but perhaps of several species. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Erika Van Kirk (<erika_vankirk...>) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
