Date: 10/31/25 3:27 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (31 Oct 2025) 391 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 31, 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: Andrew Sturgess, Jerry Jourdan, Johannes Postma,
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:
The day began with a brisk westerly breeze that gathered strength as the
hours passed. By midday, gusts reached 25 mph, strong enough to send hats
flying and test our grip on the datasheets, though they only escaped once
(a small victory, all things considered). The barometer inched upward but
stalled at 29.74”, making little progress beyond that point. Overhead, a
partly cloudy sky offered both texture and reference points: cirrus,
cumulus, and stratus clouds mingled together, each taking a turn on the
stage.
Raptor Observations:
Nearly three hours passed before the first migrant appeared, but the brief
surge of activity that followed made the wait worthwhile. The momentum,
however, faded by 2 p.m. as the strengthening winds scoured the sky clean
of movement. Turkey Vultures once again stole the show, surpassing triple
digits with three hundred and seven counted. Their migration window is
beginning to close, though we can still expect a few hundred more into
November. Red-tailed Hawks are starting to take the spotlight, with
sixty-four tallied today. Their major flight has yet to unfold, but that
time is fast approaching. Rounding out the day’s diversity were eight
Red-shouldered Hawks, six Sharp-shinned Hawks, two Northern Harriers, two
Peregrine Falcons, one Merlin, and one Golden Eagle. The latter arrived
just two minutes before closing, providing a thrilling finale to the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
A variety of waterfowl dabbled near the lotus beds, while gulls, among them
a flock of Bonaparte’s, swept and foraged over the river. Dark-eyed
Juncos have begun to appear beneath our maple tree, and Winter Wrens have
been heard from the marsh. Fifty-five American Crows were observed
migrating in loose formation.
Predictions:
Tomorrow’s winds are expected to ease, likely staying below 10 mph.
Though they’ll remain westerly, the calmer conditions should favor
migration if the velocity holds steady. The barometer is forecast to
continue climbing, and the day should bring beautiful, partly cloudy skies,
a promising setup for tomorrow’s watch.
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Report submitted by Jo Patterson (<jopatterson06...>)
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
