Date: 10/29/26 3:25 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (29 Oct 2026) 265 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 29, 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Bella Maiwurm
Observers: Erika Van Kirk, Johannes Postma, 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: Given such robust southerly winds, we could hardly be disappointed in the day's migration numbers; although given the big picture, one might be a touch unhappy with such unprecedentedly pleasant temperatures that surely kept our cold weather species away. But let us take a moment to gain perspective. As Mr. Shakespeare's Prince of Denmark reflected, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so," and I, for one, believe he was on the mark. What could be designated as a "bad day," was a sunny, cirrus strewn, warm affair punctuated by gloriously stormy stratus clouds that gave way to a brief shower and a full rainbow. A falling barometer and southwest winds still sent birds our way, and the seven hours of the count passed in communal congeniality.
Raptor Observations: The raptors had to be coaxed out from behind the trees today, with whispered words of promise that these warm weather days will not last and they should in fact muscle through the opposing winds and make for southern skies. It took well into the third hour before the first bird took pity on us, a red-tail who made a quick appearance low overhead before continuing on. Slow but steady, small kettles continued to pop up throughout the day, resulting in two hundred and fifty-five turkey vultures added to the tally. We thanked them profusely for not making us squint through scopes today. Five red-tails, a pair each of bald eagles and northern harriers, and one quick kestrel made up the rest of the day.
Non-raptor Observations: Our beloved GREGs still dominated the marsh on our way to the boat launch (thirty in total), though GREG they are no longer, as scientists have recently split these egrets and designated them "American Egret." The blackbirds are continuing to noisily occupy the same marsh, more red-winged than rusty. Tree swallows still abound in spite of the oncoming lateness of the season, and we have finally added purple finch to the list of birds observed from the boat launch. Cormorants, geese, mallards, and ring-billed gulls make up the majority of the waterbirds, and four pelicans continue on the lake. Only one blue jay was seen crossing the channel, making our counters question if this species is done migrating and any lingerers have opted to become locals. Missing from our day list were crows and monarchs, neither having apparently been persuaded by the bright skies.
Predictions: Winds will be coming from the north overnight and throughout the day at five mph, usually a good sign for movement! Hopefully some more winter passerines and waterfowl will make their way over to the picnic tables. Skies will be mostly sunny, barometer hovering around thirty point three-five, and temperature in the mid-fifties. All in all a good recipe for counting birds and enjoying another lovely fall day.
======================================================================== 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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