Date: 10/10/25 4:29 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (10 Oct 2025) 2798 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 10, 2025
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jo Patterson
Observers: Bill Peregord, Johannes Postma, Michelle Peregord,
Rosemary Brady
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:
Thin veils of cirrus clouds spiraled and stretched across the sky, carried
by a sometimes not-so-gentle 10 mph breeze. Southern winds brought milder
temperatures, climbing from 50 to 68 degrees, though jackets were still
needed once our picnic tables slipped into afternoon shade. The barometer
began its descent, settling just above 30 inches, where it looks to
stagnate for the next few days.
Raptor Observations:
We were pleased with today’s flight. Although two thousand seven hundred
and ninety-eight raptors pale in comparison to the totals from the past two
days, it was all we could have hoped for on southern winds. A steady push
of Turkey Vultures arrived in the late morning, followed by a lull around
lunchtime and then an afternoon burst of activity. Few of October’s other
“usual suspects” made appearances: twenty-five sharp-shins, seven
harriers, seven red-tails, and three Bald Eagles.
Non-raptor Observations:
Yellow-rumps continue to forage in the maples. Mallards, cormorants, and
ring-bills streamed past by the hundreds. A small group of Pelicans passed
overhead, though most remained grounded by the jetty. Two hundred and
eighty Blue Jays were tallied, and no Monarchs were seen.
Predictions:
Tomorrow looks like a toss-up. Winds are forecast to shift north but remain
light, so it could turn out to be a great day—or just an okay one. Either
way, cooler air and cloud cover will keep temperatures low, so bring a
jacket if you plan to come out.
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Report submitted by Jo Patterson (<jopatterson06...>)
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
