Date: 9/13/26 3:00 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (13 Sep 2026) 367 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 13, 2026
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Gracie Sangmeister
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Erika Van Kirk,
Johannes Postma, Rebekah Graham
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:
�And I�ll huff, and I�ll puff�.� The wind did indeed huff and puff, up to
seventeen mph at the end of the watch. The birds were shape-shifting,
trimming their sails as they powered through. The winds were mostly
west-northwest, not a frequent wind in that strength at the site. Flight
lines were widespread and unpredictable. The temperature topped out at
eighty, with a real-feel boost of two degrees. The barometer is preparing
to jump tomorrow, but it stayed just below thirty inches today. Skies were
always changing with light cirrus gauze covering most of the cirrocumulus
clouds that formed, at times it looked like a thousand-piece puzzle was
strewn across the sky. The final jump in wind velocity did bring a more
structured bank of clouds being pushed before it, not exactly a roll cloud,
but acting like one. There is a slight chance of rain later.
Raptor Observations:
For a day that was unpredictable due to the winds, we did alright. A total
of three hundred and sixty-seven birds forced their way into a tough
headwind. Broadwings did the heavy lifting, as expected, with two hundred
and fifty-four specimens. Sharp-shins were buffeted but unbowed, eighty of
them being seen. Turkey vultures, the early-leaving birds for that species,
counted for eleven of the migrants. Other locals are still waiting for the
sap to rise. Nine kestrels made the clicker. Eight bald eagles, strong
enough to ignore the conditions, flew over, most very high. A merlin was
seen packing a lunch, what looked to be an unfortunate dragonfly not paying
enough attention to his surroundings. Two red-tailed hawks were noted. One
adult Cooper�s hawk flew past. One osprey was also counted.
Non-raptor Observations:
Our dear friends, the white pelicans were up and about today. Thirty to
forty in number, they practiced busting their moves for the airshow at
Willow Run. Wild turkeys were again seen on the drive in. A palm warbler
was seen twerking its tail in the nearby maple. Lots of mallards were
flying this morning. I don�t know where these birds are spending the day,
perhaps up the river, but we don�t see too many in the slip unless in a
flyover. Our resident terns are still present, as are the local osprey. The
Lions took it to the limit today, securing a one-point win in OT.; a
resounding victory for them, a nail-biter for the fans. Monarchs managed
eighty-two reps today under tough conditions.
Predictions:
Tomorrow looks interesting. The barometer will be headed north in a hurry.
With the arrival of a high-pressure system will be an accompanying
northerly wind. The fly in the martini will be that this is a short-lived
wind that only lasts until early afternoon. Then, it will turn southerly,
on a dime, and increase in strength. During the watch hours, the winds
should be moderate and stay below double digits which is a good thing.
Temperatures will be like bond yields tomorrow, as the winds turn north,
the temperature will head south, staying below seventy degrees. The day
looks promising on paper, but timing is everything and systems don�t always
react as predicted. Fingers crossed.
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Report submitted by Andrew Sturgess (<ajyes72...>)
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
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