Date: 10/8/25 4:31 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (08 Oct 2025) 13828 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2025
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Jo Patterson
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Bill Peregord, Don Sherwood, Jerry Jourdan,
Johannes Postma, Rosemary Brady, Sam Heilman
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:
For those of us wishing for a break from the unseasonably hot weather, we
had the full immersion therapy today. Lesson learned: be careful what your
wish for. A seasonably cold blast of air coming from the north-northwest,
according to the weather station, but a little more westerly as we saw it,
made most of us wish for one more layer. The wind started at eight mph and
rose to twelve before easing in the mid-afternoon hour and veering more to
the north. It was at that time that our fortunes also veered to the
positive side. The temperature was right on the sixty-degree mark. The
barometer was telling the birds it was time to go, as it rose after the
rains had passed. The skies were mostly clear, although the Ohio side of
the lake had lots of convection cumulus clouds, since the wind was blowing
in their direction for a change.
Raptor Observations:
Until the wind shifted, we had little luck today. Most of the usual
suspects were not present, Turkey vultures kept us on the lookout, but they
only served hors d’oeuvres in the morning hours, saving the entrée for
the afternoon and overtime hours. We ended the day, as stream after stream
came out of the haze over Canada, with at total of thirteen thousand, seven
hundred and seventy-three tiny red heads.
For the most part, we couldn’t buy another species most of the day. Only
twenty-eight sharpies fought their way into the opposing winds. Thirteen
red-tails made it to the 48173 Zip Code. Four bald eagles were counted,
although our locals seem to love the high winds. Three red-shouldered hawks
flashed their crescents. Two straggler broad-winged hawks came along for
the ride. Two kestrels were buffeted by the blast. I would be remiss if I
did not mention the special guest star of the day, spotted when Jo, our
sharped-eyed counter, decided that one of these things did not look like
the others. It had a distinctive color to the trailing edge of the wings,
the color of a Swainson’s hawk. It was traveling with many turkey
vultures and a juvenile bald eagle.
Non-raptor Observations:
We had a large flight of pelicans today, the largest we have seen at the
site, estimated at nearly four-hundred birds. They did not stay aloft long,
but it was a very impressive sight. A small flock of common terns made a
few brief appearances today. Caspian and Forster’s terns were also noted.
The blue jays, for once, were overshadowed by the turkey vultures. They
still managed a respectable total of five thousand, seven hundred and
ninety birds. The monarchs had no stomach for the blustery winds, with only
one showing up.
Predictions:
Tomorrow might be a more comfortable day in that the winds should be less
in-our-face than it was today. Speeds should be more moderate, in the five
to seven mph range. Direction is predicted to be northeasterly heading to
easterly so we may see some more of the usual suspects tomorrow as they
won’t be pushed so far away. The barometer will continue to rise.
Temperatures should be the same, right on the sixty-degree mark. No clouds
will impede our view, back to the Blue Sky of Death. It’s hard to follow
up a very low round in golf with a similar round, so we may not see as many
birds tomorrow, but the signs are all positive. Dress warmly.
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Report submitted by Andrew Sturgess (<ajyes72...>)
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
