Detroit River Hawk Watch Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 08, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 0 Osprey 1 1 1 Bald Eagle 4 4 4 Northern Harrier 5 26 26 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 8 8 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 0 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 110 205 205 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 15 33 33 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 7 22 22 Merlin 1 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 4 4 Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 1 1 Total: 149 307 307 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Jo Patterson Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Johannes Postma, Mark Hainen 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: The winds were unable to make up their mind again today, but despite being directionally challenged, at least they blew at a tempered pace. Starting in the northern quadrant, the strength bounced around in the four to six mph range. After a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree flip to the south, the wind speed climbed a little more but stayed below eight mph for the duration of the watch. The barometer peaked at 30.35 inches before retreating a little. Temperatures almost reached the seventy-degree mark, falling short by a degree. Skies were mostly clear until the wind veered to the south and then we saw more convective cumulus clouds along the shore of the lake. The milder winds did not affect the flight line enough to push it out of sight, but most of the broadwings were more to the north of us as the day progressed. Raptor Observations: Our best day of the short season so far. Most of the usual suspects for this time of year made an appearance. Broadwings led the way, easily outdistancing the second-place red-tailed hawks with a one hundred and ten count to the tail’s fifteen. There were no large kettles, but a steady trickle throughout the day once they got started. American kestrels took the lowest step on the podium with seven representatives. Finishing out of the medals with a tie for fourth were the sharp-shins and harriers, both with five answering the roll call. Four bald eagles were counted today as they passed over in a determined manner. One osprey was counted. We missed the falcon hat-trick for lack of a peregrine, but a single merlin was noted. Non-raptor Observations: The pelicans once again entertained us with their formation flying. Some of them were also in the water by the jetty off Celeron Island, along with a few mute swans. Cedar waxwings are still active but they seem to be hunting from trees across the slip, instead of our nearby maples. A warbling vireo was heard in the background. Several hummingbirds flew over today, as they have nearly everyday of the watch so far. The Caspian terns had a noisy squabble as somebody crossed the boundary line between their territories. About a dozen common terns made a pass through the neighborhood, noticeable for their different wing beats and haircuts. The kingfisher was laughing at us today. Small flights of cormorants are being seen, maybe new arrivals from afar, not that the present gang needs any reinforcements. Seventy four monarchs were counted. Predictions: Tomorrow’s forecast is not as promising as todays. Winds are the problem, as usual. South to begin with and stronger south at the end of the day. Starting slowly at three mph, rising as the thermal activity begins to move things around to a predicted nine mph at day’s end. Temperatures are going to be a couple of degrees higher at seventy-two. The barometer will be receding a little but still staying well above thirty inches. The day should be mostly sunny. The winds may affect our ability to see the broadwings as they were pretty far out by the end of the day today. The wind direction also determines where the sky is hazy as the evaporating moisture from Lake Erie rides the winds and further hinders observations. Hopefully, the other usual suspects, harriers, sharp-shins and falcons, will ignore the wind and fly over us as the season is starting to produce more raptors. ======================================================================== 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