Date: 9/21/25 11:33 am From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (21 Sep 2025) 92 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 21, 2025
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 11:30:00
Total observation time: 3.5 hours
Official Counter: Andrew Sturgess
Observers: Bill Peregord, Erika Van Kirk, Michelle Peregord,
Shelly Andrews
Visitors:
We welcome visitors to our site as we are eager to share the joys of hawk
watching with one and all. Although there may be times in which we are all
very busy and need alone-time to concentrate, those are the times that are
most enjoyable for visitors as the skies are filled with migrating raptors.
Weather:
To look at the radar this morning, it looked like the watch would be a
washout very soon. A large green blob seemed very menacing, but closer
examination showed it to be moving north, just skirting my lawn, which is
in dire need of a drink, the same as its owner. And so we pressed on at the
watch, dark clouds to the west be damned. The winds were very erratic again
today, rising and falling, changing directions with no apparent rhyme or
reason. Clouds were two-toned, dark to the west and a muted gray layer
elsewhere. Temperatures were climbing towards the seventies, despite the
lack of sun. The barometer was falling as a change in weather is due to
arrive. When the first rain did arrive just past midday, we decided that
discretion, and fatigue to be honest, were the better part of valor, and
called the watch early. Thunderstorms are still in the forecast.
Raptor Observations:
The winds were southerly, when they were blowing. Not a good wind for us.
We had a slow trickle of sharpies to count, some were taking time to gain
altitude with dynamic soaring over Gibraltar when the winds were light,
making a ten-minute job of crossing the slip. A square sine wave approach
to flying instead of their usual slightly undulating flight. We gave them
the gold with seventy-eight being counted. Other birds were rarely seen.
Broad-wings took the second tier of the podium but with only eight birds,
most came just before the rain. Three kestrels were noted. We only counted
one turkey vulture, although a few more were up just cruising around. One
red-tailed hawk and one osprey were also tallied.
Non-raptor Observations:
The gulls were active again today, kettling, and marching in unison across
the sky. Caspian terns and Forster’s terns were working the area. As a
result of the Sargasso Sea, caused by the vegetation shedding its kelp-like
leaves, we are starting to see the annual parade of vessels disabled by
their water intakes being blocked. Soon a pay-loader will be scooping up
the residue at the boat launch, adding to the noise level at what must be
one of the noisiest hawk watches in America. The jays were flying early,
with three thousand, four hundred and thirty counted. The monarchs almost
broke the century mark with ninety-seven.
Predictions:
I’m afraid that tomorrow has a couple of strikes against it already.
Winds are projected to be stronger from the southwest. The stronger
predicted wind forecasts are usually more accurate than the very light
ones. Showers are possible, as they are the rest of the week. The barometer
will be below 30 inches and will probably stay there until Wednesday. Cloud
cover should be a nearly complete blanketing of the sky. Temperatures will
just clear the seventy-degree mark. There should possibly be some sharpie
movement, but I would be surprised to see many broadwings with the SW
winds.
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Report submitted by Andrew Sturgess (<ajyes72...>)
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
