Rough Morning in SE Michigan - 25 Nov 2024

Bobby Irwin had reported a dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk at the Antennae Farm yesterday. This was on the heels of Justin Labadie reporting a Rough-legged Hawk at the Rockwood Quarry nearby on Saturday. So this morning I decided to take a ride to look for them. Skies were dark, and drizzle was forecasted for the day. Temperature was a cool 47F.

I drove down Haggerman Road east past the Antennae Farm just before 9 am and found the dark-phased Rough-legged Hawk perched one of the tower lines on the other side of the fence. I was able to get some pics w/ the 600/4 from inside the car.

I attempted to digiscope the bird but when I got out of the car to retrieve the scope it took off toward the field just east of the fenced-in towers. After briefly landing in the tree it continued east and flew to the Rockwood Quarry where it disappeared from sight.

Antenna Farm, Monroe, Michigan, US
Nov 25, 2024 8:55 AM - 9:11 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.882 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy, 46F
5 species

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  11
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)  1     Dark phase. On wires then flew to Newport Quarry
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)  1
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)  35
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  150

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S203574315

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

I drove down Rheaume Rd. but found nothing. Turning left on Roberts Road I had a second, light-phased Rough-legged Hawk fly over the car and disappear into Pt. Mouillee to the east. Another loop of the landfill failed to produce the first bird.

I drove down to the end of the South Causeway and walked out to look for shorebirds in the Vermet Unit. Water levels were up so the only birds around were 40 or so Bonaparte's Gulls. I photographed them as they flew back and forth from Lake Erie.

A single Tundra Swan made a fly-by. It appears to have a crooked neck like the bird from last summer that stuck around after migration.

Bufflehead made their first appearance for me this winter. I counted 41. Another several dozen were floating out across the lake but they appeared to be decoys. Just then shots rang out and a flock of Red-breasted Mergansers took off from the open water. There were no cars at the Roberts Road entrance as today is closed to hunting.

Stoneco/Rockwood Quarry, Monroe, Michigan, US
Nov 25, 2024 9:14 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
6.412 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy, 47F
12 species

Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)  4
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  87
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  20
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  5
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  2
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)  1     Light phase
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  40
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)  3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  1
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)  21     Roberts Road. Small flock.
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S203579290

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

I then headed north toward Lake Erie Metropark. A quick drive down Campau Road and the Pt. Mouillee HQ yielded only a Great Egret and a couple of Great Blue Herons. Both directions the egret was on the passenger side of the road so I got no pics as it foraged in the creek next to the road.

I then drove into Lake Erie Metropark. Severn Great Egrets were foraging in the channel next to the Nature Center so I got a couple pics from the car. I then headed to the Detroit River Hawk Watch.

Skies were still cloudy and a rain was threatening so the crew of Michael, Jo and Ben were not anticipating any raptors migrating today. Only a couple of resident Bald Eagles made passes across the channel this morning. I spent time chatting with them and photographing the Bonaparte's Gulls foraging in the channel in front of us.

At close to noon a father and son rode up on bicycles and asked what we were doing. They were from Alaska so I spent a few minutes describing the hawk watch to them and describing the types of hawks we see here.

Just then Michael called out a raptor crossing the channel in front of us. I was able to get bins on it just as it passed us and it appeared to be a Rough-legged Hawk! The bird passed the tree next to us then circled for several minutes low in the sky. I was able to get the 600/4 on it and shoot several thousand photos as it soared right above us. Gorgeous light-morph juvenile (note the all-black belly and light eyes; adults have dark eyes).

Minutes later we'd see a Red-shouldered Hawk pass to the north behind the Sycamore tree. I'd say my farewell and drive home just as the rains hit! The count would finish with just the two birds, while I could leave happy knowing that I had seen 3 Rough-legged Hawks this morning!

Lake Erie Metropark, Rockwood US-MI 42.07522, -83.20136, Wayne, Michigan, US
Nov 25, 2024 10:21 AM - 12:18 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.59 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy, 47, sprinkles!
12 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  9
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  36
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  6
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  2
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  7
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  2
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)  1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  1
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)  1     Light morph juvenile. Pics
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  650
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  4

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S203597164

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)