Date: 10/10/26 6:02 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (10 Oct 2026) 1528 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 10, 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, Bill Peregord, Don Sherwood,
Erika Van Kirk, Michelle Peregord, Rosemary Brady,
Sam Heilman
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:
Overcast skies with tiny bits of blue showing through, temps in the high
50s jumping up to low 70s by the afternoon, and E wind around 5mph swinging
around to more southerly wind and picking up speed to the 10mph range by
the end of the count. The lake wind kept it chilly but overall a very
pleasant fall day.
Raptor Observations:
Today left the counter�s debating whether what they were focusing on were
eye floaties or distant turkey vultures. A dihedral shape and wobbly float
south made the determination. By days end, one thousand three hundred and
ninety-six vultures inched their way southward. Sharp-shins were next up,
with forty-eight migrants. Red-tails are picking up steam, with thirty
individuals passing by. Harriers were seen in groups of two and threes,
with twenty-five overall. Seven late broad-winged flapped on, what a ways
they have yet to go. A handful of kestrels, merlins, and peregrines were
seen, and a lone osprey and bald eagle.
Non-raptor Observations:
Thank you to the volunteers and visitors from today who helped add birds to
the list for October�s Big Day! Together forty-five species of raptor,
passerines, and waterfowl were counted from the count site. The highlights
were an orange-crowned warbler mixed in with the usual yellow-rumps, hermit
thrush, and golden-crowned kinglets flitting about the trees. The caspian
and forster�s terns made late afternoon fly-bys, chatting as they went per
usual. Two common loons were seen traveling through. The majority of the
pelicans have left, but six hung out by the jetty most of the morning
before departing, hopefully we have not yet seen the last of them. Two
thousand and forty-five blue jays picked their way south, along with
eighteen late monarchs.
Predictions:
Rain showers expected for the early hours of the count, but remaining
cloudy skies for the rest of the day. Easterly wind around 7 mph and temps
in the high 50s/low 60s. With the impending rain, birds may not be too
enthusiastic about moving, but the last few days of determined vultures
even with poor winds shows that we will just have to see what tomorrow
brings!
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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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