Date: 11/22/25 4:41 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (22 Nov 2025) 324 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 22, 2025
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Jo Patterson
Observers: Andrew Sturgess, Don Sherwood, Johannes Postma,
Rosemary Brady
Visitors:
Tomorrow’s weather should bring west winds at 6–14 mph with gusts over
25 mph. The barometer is expected to rise, and temperatures will run
slightly warmer than today. Mostly clear, sunny skies should keep
conditions comfortable. While the mild setup may give us some movement,
today was likely the final major push of the 2025 season.
Weather:
The haze that lingered over the past two days finally lifted, revealing a
clean sweep of blue sky. By late morning, thin veils of cirrus drifted in,
offering excellent call-out points for the high fliers. After a stretch of
unfavorable wind patterns, today brought a welcome break: a soft, diffuse
northerly flow that gradually rotated a full 90 degrees to the west. Wind
speeds never exceeded 10 mph. Though the breeze kept our faces chilled, the
air temperature held steady in the low 40s, feeling relatively mild for
late November. The barometer remained firm just above 30 inches.
Raptor Observations:
The early northerlies sparked a strong Red-tailed Hawk movement. But as the
wind shifted west, the tempo slowed and birds began melting into the
afternoon haze. We finished with two hundred and twenty-nine Red-tails,
many arriving in small kettles. Through the midday hours they were splashed
across the horizon, so widespread it was hard to put binoculars down
without landing on another. Their less conspicuous cousin, the
Red-shouldered Hawk, moved with them; twenty-two passed, including one that
met the ire of our resident Merlin. Additional totals included forty-three
Turkey Vultures, nineteen Sharp-shinned Hawks, five Golden Eagles, two
Cooper’s Hawks, and a single Rough-legged Hawk.
Non-raptor Observations:
Sandhill Cranes and Tundra Swans were on the move. Waterfowl hunters
returning from the lake with Scaup. Ring-billed Gulls squabbled over a
palm-sized largemouth bass. Over five hundred American Crows flew overhead.
Predictions:
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.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Jo Patterson (<jopatterson06...>)
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
