Date: 10/13/26 2:33 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (13 Oct 2026) 771 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 13, 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, Mark Hainen, 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:
Aeolus, the keeper and king of the winds, allowed Notus, the god of the
south wind, to run wild today. He whipped up hot winds from the south to
help us set a new high temperature in the D for this date. Breaking 1975�s
record of eighty-three, we achieved eighty-six degrees today. Thankfully
for us, the wind had a tempering effect on the heat and no hawk-watchers
were harmed during the making of this watch. The wind speed reached
twenty-one mph at its peak and was consistently robust throughout the day.
The barometer was essentially flat, around twenty-nine point eight during
the watch. Skies were of the blue dome variety, the only exception being a
delicate tatted lace veil of high cirrus clouds that sailed through in
midafternoon. They were perhaps foretelling the rain that may fall tonight
as the wind turns more northerly and much cooler.
Raptor Observations:
Not our favorite wind, and I suspect the birds were tired of fighting it
too. The turkey vultures were never seen kettling today. Some over the tip
of Canada looked almost like they were kiting, holding station into the
wind while they staged this morning. Eventually, six hundred and
seventy-eight of them took a circuitous northern route to reach us, most in
a slow trickle with only occasional clumps of double digits. Sharpies were
moving today in more ways than one, getting bounced around beyond their
control as they navigated the typhoon. Seventy-six managed to break though,
although the later hours were not as productive as midday. Kestrels made
double digits, but barely, with eleven trying to maintain an even keel in
stormy seas. The hat-trick was achieved with two merlins and one peregrine
falcon. Three northern harriers fought their way over as well.
Non-raptor Observations:
Rebekah G. got her black duck today, as one flew by with a pair of
mallards. Thanks to the keen eye of Don S. for spotting that lifer for her.
We had a visit from a young Bonaparte�s gull today who latched on to a
fish that made us think that its reach had exceeded its grasp, but it
managed to swallow it after a few minutes of effort. Caspian and Forster�s
terns are still present. The pelicans were seen today but not in great
numbers. Swallows and swifts are still present, mostly working the sky over
Celeron Island. Since the winds were pushing the raptors to the north,
Celeron had few callouts today. Blue jays were staying low behind the trees
today, but fifteen hundred and eighty-seven were counted. Six hardy
monarchs were also noted.
Predictions:
Change is coming tomorrow. The barometer will be rising, the winds will be
from the northern direction and the temperatures will be about twenty
degrees cooler. Although we will be heading into high pressure, the clouds
will still be present, perhaps diminishing during the day. Rain may fall as
the winds change direction and cooler air prevails, but it should be almost
finished by the start of the watch. The barometer will climb tomorrow, peak
and then drop quickly on Thursday, with more rain as we go into another
low-pressure system. The wind speed should be more moderate at four to
eight mph.
I suspect birds will be on the move tomorrow once the rain passes. The
front, with its rain, may affect the flight to the east of us so it may
take some time for the birds to reach us. Hopefully, the birds do not take
the shortcut across the lake as they sometimes do on this wind.
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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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