Date: 10/8/26 3:18 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (08 Oct 2026) 3101 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 08, 2026
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7.75 hours
Official Counter: Bella Maiwurm
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Bill Peregord, Don Sherwood, Mark Hainen,
Michelle Peregord, 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:
�I can�t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to
always reach my destination.� Mr. Jimmy Dean, of sausage fame, gave us that
quote and it applied to the turkey vultures today. Adverse winds from
generally a westerly direction got road rage and sped things up
considerably from seven mph at the start of the watch to fourteen mph at
the end. It was interesting to see the difference in flight lines that
occurred during the day, although our apprentices, Bella and Rebekah, doing
yeoman�s work, might use different adjectives, as the birds were not easy
to track at times. The wind was mostly at our back, so the seventy-degree
temperature and plenty of sun, made for another pleasant fall day on the
surface. The barometer rising quickly was the reason for the winds as high
pressure ushered out yesterday�s one- day low. Clouds were a mix today of
cirrus, spreading airplane contrails, with small cumulus clouds starting to
fill in the final hours of the watch.
Raptor Observations:
Turkey vultures were the object of our desire today. At first, playing coy,
they stayed below the tree line, not giving us much to work with. Later, as
the wind rose, they adopted a different strategy, flying higher but with
lines that would tack into the wind in assorted inconsistent directions. We
ended the day with two thousand, nine hundred and fifty-nine, ninety-five
percent of our total. Sharp-shins were getting the Cedar Point rides today
in the winds that buffeted them mercilessly. Eighty-seven of them managed
to survive. The kestrels also had a bumpy flight with twenty-eight making
it though. Harriers were not far behind with twenty-one making flights that
included many detours. Two bald eagles were counted, along with one osprey
and one merlin.
Non-raptor Observations:
The pelicans made cameo appearances today, small in number and mostly out
over the lake. Our resident terns, Forster�s and Caspian, also were back in
the slip. A number of warblers, mostly butter-butts were seen nearby. A
brown creeper was also reported. The cormorants have not been seen in the
large gatherings on the lake for a few days, but the winds might have
altered their plans. Gull kettles have not been an issue for us the last
few days. Swallows are still plentiful, but are seen in the distance over
Celeron or Gibraltar. Blue jays were on the move today with seven thousand,
five hundred and fifty-nine. Seven monarch butterflies were also noted.
Predictions:
The winds should ease tomorrow, although the west-southwest direction is
not usually bountiful. The range should be from five to seven mph. Mostly
sunny skies should prevail with a temperature similar to today. The
barometer will continue to climb during the day. Turkey vultures should
continue to move, it�s October after all, and hopefully, we will be able to
see them.
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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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