Date: 10/12/26 2:16 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (12 Oct 2026) 217 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 12, 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, Don Sherwood, Johannes Postma, Mark Hainen,
Rebekah Graham, 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 and heavy fog in the distance for the morning hours, then
clearing up to bright blue skies and some lingering haze in the distance.
Temps from about 60 to high 70s, and SW wind around 15mph shifting to more
due S wind and dropping in strength by the end of the count. This was the
kind of day where layers were being put on and taken off consistently
throughout the day until the sun was pleasantly beating on our backs in the
late afternoon.
Raptor Observations:
A bit of a change of pace from the last few days of the count, with
sharpies topping turkey vultures in terms of numbers for the first time in
weeks. No large kettles of turkey vultures appearing over Canada and
slowly making their way over, just a few small kettles or individual birds
appearing to the north and moving behind the tree line. Sharpies darted
through for most of the day, with a few harriers and a red-tail mixed in.
We did achieve the falcon hat trick, with three migrant peregrines, six
kestrels, and one single merlin that zipped by late in the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
The water was low out by the jetty, the Canada geese being seen standing
comfortably in front of it first thing this morning. The pelicans were
later observed in deeper parts mid-lake. Both species of terns (Forster's
and Caspian) were out and about, though few in number. Swifts continue to
delight us in the mornings, while swallows have fallen off. A few mallards
flew by, none dark enough to be an American black duck. An even nine
hundred blue jays migrated today, as did sixteen monarchs.
Predictions:
For those who missed last month's weather, we'll have all the makings of a
classic midwest summer day tomorrow�hot, humid, and sunny. Temperatures
will scrape the top of 80F, so bring your lightest layers, a hat, some
sunscreen, and maybe a gatorade to get through the day. Southwest and west
southwest winds in the 12-17mph range are predicted, and the barometer will
stay above 29.73". Similar to today, tomorrow's conditions are not ideal,
but will likely tempt a few more Sharpies into an inefficient travel day.
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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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