Date: 11/13/26 2:54 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (13 Nov 2026) 358 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 13, 2026
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Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 6.75 hours
Official Counter: Gracie Sangmeister
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Bella Maiwurm, Don Sherwood
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:
As highly superstitious people by nature, we always approach Friday the
thirteenth with some trepidation. The bad luck was not meant for us today
but rather the owner of something that caught on fire in the Amherstburg
vicinity sending black smoke billowing up into the sky. We hope everyone is
safe. It was a dark day at times with squalls passing through complete with
precipitation that looked like a charcoal sketch of a storm. The wind
stayed in the north in a fairly consistent direction with the usual
oscillations of speed in the ten to fifteen mph range. The barometer
started a four day climb today that will take us to Monday. The temperature
rose to forty-two degrees with real-feels about eight degrees lower than
that. We cut the watch short by a few minutes after being pelted by graupel
and rain at the end of the day. Those scattered squalls had finally got us
in their sights.
Raptor Observations:
The day started early today. There was a movement that started late
yesterday and it continued today. Red-tailed hawks finally claimed the top
step as they should be doing in November. One hundred and eighty-one did
the trick today. Turkey vultures are still moving in small groups,
ninety-five showed up today. Their glory days are behind them now.
Sharp-shins are keeping the dream alive with twelve birds today, most of
them getting the A-ride from a strong gusty wind. Two bald eagles and two
Cooper�s hawks were observed. The number one was reserved for a harrier and
a golden eagle.
Non-raptor Observations:
It seemed like a late fall day today. November, enough of that
mild-mannered genteel fluff, do your worst. Coinciding with the onset of
more seasonal weather, we had more seasonal birds. Sandhill cranes were
noted in the sky today, a group of four, and a solo bird as we left. Our
first tundra swan flight was seen this morning, about fifteen birds. We
also had a flight of Canada geese that had some hitchhikers today. We
believe that there were five �blue� snow geese with them. Murky lighting
did not help when trying to positively ID them. Our first tree sparrows
posed for us today. Bonaparte�s gulls came in the slip to delicately pluck
minnows from the buffet table. A male kingfisher flew overhead. The
American crows were moving today with sixteen hundred and fifty-two rowing
their way by.
Predictions:
The next couple of days look promising on paper. Northerly winds with a
rising barometer are mother�s milk to hawk watches. It should be a less
ominous sky with more blue of a cerulean hue, rather than the gun-metal
blue that we had today. It still calls for a mostly cloudy sky for the next
two days, however. Winds should be northwest at ten to twelve mph. The
flight line will determine our fate tomorrow; today the birds seemed to fly
to the north despite the headwind that would usually push them out to the
lake. Let�s hope tomorrow is a repeat of today�s performance.
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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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