Date: 9/24/25 4:30 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (24 Sep 2025) 71 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 24, 2025
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Jo Patterson
Observers:
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:
A strong storm moved through early this morning and lasted until noon.
Although the forecast had called for rain all day, the thunder stopped, and
the dark gray clouds gave way to less intimidating white stratus. While
blue skies were still several hours off, the northeast winds and break in
precipitation were enough to get the raptors moving.
Raptor Observations:
A kettle of twenty-six Turkey Vultures kicked off the movement today. Their
dark forms swirled in sharp contrast against the bright clouds before
streaming over the parking lot. Another eleven vultures followed, bringing
the day’s total to thirty-seven. October is their month, so we expect to
see many more soon. Other large raptors included eight red-tails, four
broad-wings, and one Bald Eagle, all taking a similar path to the vultures.
A Merlin accompanied one of the red-tails, living up to its reputation as
it stooped and harassed the Buteo. The species less adept at soaring
followed a slightly different line—nine Sharp-shinned Hawks, eight
Northern Harriers, and three American Kestrels appeared over Celeron and
crossed toward the southern end of the metropark.
Non-raptor Observations:
The local birds were the first to appear after the rain subsided. A
Cooper’s Hawk chased Starlings, two adult Bald Eagles soared together
over the water, and five unmotivated Turkey Vultures floated around the
antennas. Blue Jays had an impressive afternoon flight—nearly twelve
thousand were counted. They passed by the hundreds overhead, flying low and
visible even without binoculars. The Caspian Terns were noisy, and a
Herring Gull took up residence on a buoy usually reserved for ring-bills.
Predictions:
Tomorrow should bring northwest winds at 3–6 mph. Although northwest
winds usually favor Holiday Beach, we still expect a good flight. The rain
has temporarily cooled temperatures by a few degrees, and with an overcast
sky, we may need our sweatshirts.
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Report submitted by Erika Van Kirk (<erika_vankirk...>)
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
