Date: 9/11/26 4:38 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (11 Sep 2026) 1275 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 11, 2026
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:45:00
Total observation time: 7.75 hours
Official Counter: Gracie Sangmeister
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Bella Maiwurm, Bill Peregord, Don Sherwood,
Johannes Postma, Mark Hainen, Michelle Peregord
Visitors:
We welcome visitors to our site at the Lake Erie Metropark Boat Launch. We
are always willing to discuss the events of the day. Let us share our
enthusiasm with you. There will be busy days, that may require our full
attention, but those are not that frequent, and they provide great thrills
for all. We can predict good days to some degree, but the exact hour is up
to the birds, so be prepared to put in some time for the best results. Pack
a lunch 😉
Weather:
The deep blue sky loomed ominously this morning. Beautiful to look at with
the naked eye, yet it certainly makes it difficult to pick Broad-winged
Hawks out of the stratosphere. Luckily for our counters the ocean of blue
became quickly spotted with islands of puffy cumulus clouds, providing
landmarks and giving our eyes a break. The east wind was in our favor,
starting as a strong NNE and slowly swung southward as the day progressed.
The barometer stayed above thirty today, the denser air giving the birds
more lift to continue their journey south. The temperature hovered around a
comfortable seventy-four degrees Fahrenheit and humidity down in the
fifties.
Raptor Observations:
One lone sharp-shin made the crossing in the first hour, leaving the
counters itching for more. We were granted just that during the second hour
when three hundred and ninety-four Broad-wings crossed our skies in kettles
of twenty to fifty birds. Broadies dominated the count today, with our
first thousand plus Broad-winged day (one thousand and thirty-seven to be
exact). Sharp-shins came in second with ninety-four go-getters, often mixed
in with larger kettles. Turkey vultures took third, with fifty-three early
risers taking a southward line. Another day of the falcon trifecta, with
thirty-eight kestrels, three merlins, and one peregrine.
Non-raptor Observations:
Forty-two avian species graced our skies today. The morning air was filled
with honks and quacks as Canada geese and mallards departed. A female
kingfisher aired her grievances to the crowd. A juvenile American herring
gull continued to throw off our counters as it swooped and streamed all
day. Twenty-five American white pelicans flew in formation over the
breakwater jetty. As the season progresses we should get more views of
these charismatic birds. A favorite of the day was a flyover red-headed
woodpecker, a species not commonly seen from the count and hopefully not
the last. A total of five hundred and eighty-nine monarchs floated by
today.
Predictions:
Tomorrow�s weather is a toss up. The morning wind will start from the south
at ten to fifteen mph and shift slightly to the southwest by the afternoon.
The temperature should peak around seventy-nine degrees with humidity
hovering around seventy-five percent. Overhead skies will close in with
heavy clouds by the afternoon, with a decrease in the barometer and
occasional rain showers predicted, though we will see if it skirts around
or follows through. A lower barometer and winds from the south are not the
favorite of this site, but we can hope for sharp-shins and harriers to
power through.
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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
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