The Detroit Hawk Watch is one of the premiere sites from which to watch migrating hawks, so we decided to add an extra field trip the annual schedule and head up to Lake Erie Metro Park in Michigan. Since we were changing things, we decided to meet at the Walmart at Lewis Center and see how this alternate meeting place worked out. The first person to show up immediately noticed, “do you have purple hair?”. The next participant noticed it as well, so even in the dark the Halloween highlights were apparent.
The drive up featured a usual wrong turn, something the Avids are known for, but we arrived eventually at the beach at the park. We noticed two men jogging together, one bearded wearing a pink Tutu. We wondered if he was dressed for the holiday, or perhaps lost a bet, but he sped away before we could ask.
On arrival the counters were discussing the Varied Thrush that birders had observed being captured and eaten by a Coopers Hawk. There was a Wanted poster picturing the Coop – Wanted for Murder. An interesting discussion ensued as to the likelihood that other vagrant birds meet the same fate.
The counters oriented us to the landmarks: the pumpkin house (has a pumpkin on the chimney), the ugly house (used to be ugly, now fixed up), the stacks, sailboat, boathouse) so we would know where they were seeing birds. They were able to ID what appeared to us as mere specks, mostly by flight pattern. Unfortunately we saw very few birds during our 5 hours, so did not become proficient in this skill.
The weather was overcast with light winds and the birding was slow. We saw a resident Cooper’s Hawk and Bald Eagle. A few Common Loons flew past and we watched a Greater Black-backed Gull on the water. A few Pine Siskins flew overhead, but the migrating hawks mostly circled high and around us. We did have good looks at a Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Harriers, and Red Tailed Hawks. We also saw two Golden Eagles and a Rough-legged Hawk, unusual sightings for Ohio birders. Since the birding was slow, it was getting colder, and rain was coming in, we left in the early afternoon and arrived home before dark.
All in all, a slow day but an interesting Avids adventure. We’ll hope for better weather next time. Meanwhile, a list of species seen is below.
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Mallard
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Bonaparte’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Forster’s Tern
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Mourning Dove
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
American Robin
European Starling
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch