Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 16, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 38 745 90693 Osprey 0 0 29 Bald Eagle 1 18 167 Northern Harrier 3 24 503 Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 67 4011 Cooper's Hawk 1 2 67 American Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 47 216 Broad-winged Hawk 0 1 51922 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Red-tailed Hawk 84 367 1409 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 4 Golden Eagle 1 16 51 American Kestrel 0 0 964 Merlin 0 4 54 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 48 Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 1 Unknown Buteo 0 0 3 Unknown Falcon 0 0 3 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 10 Total: 136 1296 150157 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Andrew Sturgess Observers: Bill Peregord, Don Sherwood, Erika Van Kirk, Johannes Postma, Michelle Peregord Visitors: We welcome visitors to our site as we are eager to share the joys of hawk watching with one and all. Although there may be times in which we are all very busy and need alone-time to concentrate, those are the times that are most enjoyable for visitors as the skies are filled with migrating raptors. Weather: Today was a batten down the hatch’s kind of day with strong northwest winds providing a challenge to even the best and strongest of fliers. Traditionally, our most productive days come when a low has passed and a high-pressure system brings winds from the north. The rising pressure may trigger the birds to hop on a friendly wind that is going in their direction. The direction of the winds at a given site depends on your position relative to the center of the high. Today, we missed it by that much, as Agent Smart might say. Instead of our favored northeast wind, it was ninety degrees more westerly. The strength of the winds also plays a part in the flight lines. Today, it was a mixed bag, some high, some very low hiding below the trees, some to the north, some to the south. Most of them expending more energy than they might have wished at this point in their journey. We have had an odd November, wind- wise, and this was perhaps the most “traditional” transition from low to high that we have seen so far. We just missed it by that much. The sky was still in transition too, with early sunshine giving way to heavy cumulus cloud cover, before opening up once more to a blue-dominant view. The barometer was climbing, as expected. The temperature reached forty-five degrees at its peak, but it was a goose-down day. The more the better. Raptor Observations: Given the raging winds, we did a little better than expected today. The red-tails finally climbed to the top step of the podium with eighty-four, bloody but unbowed birds, fighting their way through. Turkey vultures are still on the move, but in smaller congregations less frequently observed. Thirty-eight made the trek today. Sharp-shins got a free A-ticket ride today, but only six took advantage. Three northern harriers passed the test, one a gray ghost that passed nearby. Two “shoulders’ were seen flying overhead. One bald eagle was counted, although the locals were very active today in their favorite type of wind, strong. One Cooper’s hawk flew past, and one golden eagle was also noted. Non-raptor Observations: A lot of birds chose to sit out the high winds. The Bonaparte’s were content to bob on the waves in the slip for extended periods. The other gulls were up in numbers, most seeming to enjoy the free energy under their wings. Our resident kingfisher came out today to do a fly-by. Mute swans were the swan du jour, with small flights in the afternoon. Lots of ducks are migrating, with strings of them being common, but so far away that we cannot confidently ID them. We are sure that the scaup have taken procession of Lake Erie as large numbers are frequently seen taking to the air. The crows were back today, most hiding behind the tree line, we counted six hundred and seventy. Predictions: The winds should control their temper a little better tomorrow, but still be carrying some pent-up resentment to our site. Starting at nine mph, then beefing up to thirteen mph midday before easing off the pedal slightly in the afternoon, mostly from a west-northwestern direction. A few degrees further west from our favorite wind. The barometer will continue to climb, breaking though the thirty-sinch barrier. Temperatures will reach forty-three degrees, although real-feels will be about seven degrees lower in the thirties, another goose down day. We are low on red-tails this year and I suspect they are moving somewhere, but given our wind curse during November, it may not be past our site, unfortunately. Fingers crossed though, around heating pads, of course. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Andrew Sturgess (ajyes72@gmail.com) Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at: http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org More site information at hawkcount.org: https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=285