Date: 9/25/26 2:32 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (25 Sep 2026) 79 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 25, 2026
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Gracie Sangmeister
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Bella Maiwurm, Don Sherwood, Mark Hainen,
Rosemary Brady
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:
After four days of exfoliation at the mercy of abrasive winds, we looked
forward to a less aggressive weather day. It turns out that another part of
our body was assaulted. Hurst Marine is constructing a sheet piling
breakwall directly across the slip. Today we listened to the rapid
rat-a-tat-tat of a pile driver for most of the watch. Communication was
difficult, although we had little to communicate. Wind speed was erratic
and surpassed the forecast strength, reaching nine mph at one point. The
direction was fairly consistent, remaining in the north-northeast to
northeast area of the compass. The barometer did drop a tenth of an inch
and perhaps that explains an unusually quiet sky. The clouds were
interesting today with a mix of icy cirrus and contrails, spread and shaped
exuberantly by the winds aloft, while under that, a collection of
altostratus clouds of inconsistent forms. The temperature reached
sixty-eight degrees.
Raptor Observations:
We expected a little more action today. The birds decided that this was not
the day to move, at least in our area. Turkey vultures, which have been
building up in numbers lately, even though not all are departing yet, were
few and far between. Forty-eight were counted. Sharp-shins were not rushing
through the turnstiles either. Twenty-one were noted. Six broadwing
stragglers were observed. Most of their brethren are approaching Corpus
Christi right now. Only three kestrels made the clicker. A disappointing
day during which we failed to break the century mark. We are between major
species but the supporting cast did not show up today.
Non-raptor Observations:
The pelicans were out in force with two hundred and forty of them observed
wheeling in formation. They splintered into break-out groups, as they are
wont to do, and were seen in smaller assemblies during the day. Gulls
continue to fill the sky, although I was told by a visitor from Wagner�s
Gap that their visual flak is lantern flies, so I guess we should not
complain. Our day is coming with those invaders though. We�ll see if our
gulls are a match for them. Two great egrets continue to play musical
chairs with a favored log floating in the water. The Forster�s terns were
busy diving today. Yesterday, we had some common eider ducks in the
southern part of the park. They were tracked from Canada and were seen at
various locations in Ohio and Michigan. Five thousand, four hundred and
seventy-three blue jays passed through, along with twenty-five monarchs.
Predictions:
Tomorrow looks to be a sunnier day and hopefully that will brighten the
spirits of the birds, encouraging them to move. Temperatures will break the
seventy-degree mark tomorrow, but just by a degree. The barometer will fall
by a couple of tenths. That is not a good sign as lower pressure is
approaching with rain possible next week. Winds look to be similar to
today, NNE in the five to ten mph range. Hopefully, we will see more
activity than today. Hopefully, Hurst Marine takes the weekend off.
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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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