Date: 10/31/26 2:21 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (31 Oct 2026) 422 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 31, 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: Bella Maiwurm, Don Sherwood, Natalie Cypher, Paul Cypher
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:
Two months of the watch complete, one to go! We rounded out October with a
high of fifty-nine degrees and gray skies filled with stratus and cumulus
clouds, blocking out the sun and allowing only the briefest glimpses of
blue. The wind gradually switched to the southeast, keeping an average pace
of six mph. The barometer stayed sky high, peaking at thirty point five-one
and dropping barely four-hundredths of an inch throughout the day.
Raptor Observations:
All Hallow�s Eve provided more treats than tricks, though they did require
some sacrifices. On one occasion, it was a visitor darting to the
boathouse, as an eager observer leaving the watch often means that a good
bird is inbound (pure speculation of course). Mere moments later, a
sub-adult golden eagle graced our binoculars. Fortunately, this bird was
feeling generous, took their time in lazy circles, and allowed our visitor
to run back and get eyes in the sky. What a treat to share a lifer with
folks! Three total goldens made the count, all sub-adults. Turkey vultures
are still leading the raptor count, with three hundred and twenty-four
streaming over. Red-tails were up next with seventy-eight, many flying low
so that we could compare the patagials, belly bands, and streaking on each.
Five sharp-shins made their way, likely some of the last we will see this
season. Three northern harriers floated by, fittingly including two gray
ghosts. Two each of bald eagles, Cooper�s hawks, and red-shoulders were
added. A single merlin and peregrine raced by. Another light morph
rough-legged hawk was my favorite treat of the day.
Non-raptor Observations:
I forgot to mention that our mink friend was back yesterday! No sighting to
note of today, but worth knowing for yesterday. Two more species were added
to this year�s count notes, Eastern Towhee and Common Goldeneye. This
brings us to one-hundred and eleven bird species seen or heard from our
tables. All the usuals were out and about including the downy, red-bellied,
golden-crowned kinglet, and northern cardinal. I thought we may go a day
without our carolina wren, and so I breathed a sign relief when their
chatter started up at one. Many of the blackbirds were flying at quite the
distance today, making it difficult to differentiate between starlings,
red-wings, and rusties. Three blue jays crossed the channel, only slightly
overshadowed by one thousand, one hundred and forty-three crows.
Predictions:
Hopefully the birds won�t be too full of sugar to move tomorrow. The skies
will continue to be full of clouds, a ceiling to keep birds lower. The
temperature will reach sixty-two, with winds mostly from the southeast at
five mph. Pressure will drop just a hair, fluctuating around thirty point
three-five. Similar conditions to today, we can hope for some movement of
northern harriers, turkey vultures, and another falcon or two. Remember to
set your clocks back an hour and enjoy the sun up an hour earlier! Our
counters will continue to be at the metropark from nine to four as normal.
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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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