Detroit River Hawk Watch (07 Nov 2025) 21 Raptors

R
reports@hawkcount.org
Sat, Nov 8, 2025 12:58 AM

Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 07, 2025

Species            Day's Count    Month Total  Season Total


Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture              20            297          90245
Osprey                      0              0            29
Bald Eagle                  0              8            157
Northern Harrier            0              9            488
Sharp-shinned Hawk          1            28          3972
Cooper's Hawk                0              0            65
American Goshawk            0              0              1
Red-shouldered Hawk          0            18            187
Broad-winged Hawk            0              0          51921
Swainson's Hawk              0              0              1
Red-tailed Hawk              0            98          1140
Rough-legged Hawk            0              0              3
Golden Eagle                0              4            39
American Kestrel            0              0            964
Merlin                      0              2            52
Peregrine Falcon            0              1            46
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:                      21            466        149327

Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end  time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 5 hours

Official Counter:        Jo Patterson

Observers:

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:
Rain postponed the start of the watch by two hours, and the sky remained
draped in thick overcast until the final thirty minutes of the day. A
strong southwest wind, gusting over twenty miles per hour, swept the low
clouds northward. The barometer dropped, and the air stayed heavy with
humidity, occasionally releasing a faint mist. The one redeeming element of
the weather was the mild temperature, which lingered above fifty degrees.
With the wind at our backs, it was surprisingly pleasant to sit outside
despite the gloomy skies.

Raptor Observations:
Few birds dared to push against the relentless headwind today. A kettle of
twenty Turkey Vultures passed by close, wobbling in the turbulence before
pressing south. A single Sharp-shinned Hawk braved the gusts, skimming low
between the trees.

Non-raptor Observations:
The resident Bald Eagles seemed to relish the wind, tumbling and playing
with one another high above Celeron. The Merlin that has been hunting the
area for several days made another appearance, dashing around bird feeders.
Meanwhile, geese and ducks crowded into the slip, which remains shallow as
strong winds have pushed much of the water over toward the New York shore.

Predictions:
Tomorrow shows promise for a good November flight. A moderate northeast
breeze of five to nine miles per hour, paired with a rising barometer,
could encourage the last lingering vultures in Canada to lift off and
inspire a fresh wave of Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks to move south.


---======
Report submitted by Jo Patterson (jopatterson06@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

Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 07, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 20 297 90245 Osprey 0 0 29 Bald Eagle 0 8 157 Northern Harrier 0 9 488 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 28 3972 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 65 American Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 18 187 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 51921 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 1 Red-tailed Hawk 0 98 1140 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 3 Golden Eagle 0 4 39 American Kestrel 0 0 964 Merlin 0 2 52 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 46 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: 21 466 149327 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Jo Patterson Observers: 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: Rain postponed the start of the watch by two hours, and the sky remained draped in thick overcast until the final thirty minutes of the day. A strong southwest wind, gusting over twenty miles per hour, swept the low clouds northward. The barometer dropped, and the air stayed heavy with humidity, occasionally releasing a faint mist. The one redeeming element of the weather was the mild temperature, which lingered above fifty degrees. With the wind at our backs, it was surprisingly pleasant to sit outside despite the gloomy skies. Raptor Observations: Few birds dared to push against the relentless headwind today. A kettle of twenty Turkey Vultures passed by close, wobbling in the turbulence before pressing south. A single Sharp-shinned Hawk braved the gusts, skimming low between the trees. Non-raptor Observations: The resident Bald Eagles seemed to relish the wind, tumbling and playing with one another high above Celeron. The Merlin that has been hunting the area for several days made another appearance, dashing around bird feeders. Meanwhile, geese and ducks crowded into the slip, which remains shallow as strong winds have pushed much of the water over toward the New York shore. Predictions: Tomorrow shows promise for a good November flight. A moderate northeast breeze of five to nine miles per hour, paired with a rising barometer, could encourage the last lingering vultures in Canada to lift off and inspire a fresh wave of Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks to move south. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Jo Patterson (jopatterson06@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