Date: 10/18/26 3:24 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (18 Oct 2026) 6700 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 18, 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,
Jerry Jourdan, Michelle Peregord, 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:
�When the frost is on the punkin and the fodders in the shock!� (JWR) On
the surface, a very pleasant fall day., starting with frost and continuing
to a bright blue dome with nary a cloud to block the photon�s eight minute
and twenty second journey from the sun. Anxiety levels were low today since
the Lions were taking the week off. Runners were running the international
marathon between Detroit and Windsor. What�s not to like? The southwest
winds were, again, the fly in our ointment today. Starting at a modest six
mph, it nearly tripled in strength to seventeen mph, far more than
projected. As the wind rose, our count fell as birds were pushed to the
north into a hazy sky. The temperature rose to sixty-two degrees. The
barometer peaked at a high of thirty point fifty-six, one of the higher
readings we have seen. As the wind rose, the barometer took a tumble of a
tenth and a half.
Raptor Observations:
When the winds were less robust, we had a steady stream of turkey vultures,
albeit on different flight lines during the morning hours, some harder to
track than others. TV�s ruled the roost again with six thousand, four
hundred and fifty-eight red-headed strangers. Sharp-shins kept them company
to the tune of one hundred and forty-six. Red-tailed hawks were on the move
with the vultures, interspersed in their streams were fifty-four of their
ilk. Kestrels were next on the list with seventeen, one escaping a
determined chase by a herring gull. Ten northern harriers plodded through
in their own distinct style. Seven bald eagles also crossed. Three
red-shouldered hawks were also seen flashing the red. Two Cooper�s hawks,
and one apiece of merlins and peregrines completed the count.
Non-raptor Observations:
We saw the male kingfisher for the first time in a while this morning. The
pelicans numbered forty or more, at times they were drawn to the streams of
the turkey vultures, flying alongside them. A Carolina wren was practicing
his overture this morning. We may have had a sighting of one of the
red-throated loons in the area. It certainly had a different flight posture
than the common loons we see frequently. The image quality of the pictures
is low, however, and may not prove our case. Three young Bonaparte�s
visited this morning, sampling the wares of our slip. Forster�s terns are
still here, but the Caspians may not be. A multitude of gulls had a moment
today, occupying the sky over us at many very high elevations hawking
insects. The blue jays are tapering off, four hundred and seventy-eight
came by today. The crows were taking a day of rest, except for one of their
number. One monarch was hurrying to catch up.
Predictions:
Tomorrow should be a near copy of today. Sunny skies, slightly higher
temperatures, and southwest winds. The wind strength should be lower,
although the predictions have been off a little lately. The barometer will
still be solidly in the high-pressure range. Turkey vultures will fly and
if the winds are down in the five to six mph range, as predicted, we should
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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