Date: 11/26/25 12:07 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (26 Nov 2025) Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 26, 2025
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 09:00:00
Observation end time: 12:00:00
Total observation time: 3 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:
November seems determined to go out with a blast. Unfortunately, that blast
is of gale force southwestern winds, not raptors. After three hours in
30mph winds with frequent 50mph gusts, and the “feels like” air
temperature in the low teens, the watch ended early. I feared that I too,
along with all the water in Lake Erie, would be blown away to Buffalo. This
seiche is predicted to be the largest since 2023!
Raptor Observations:
Unsurprisingly, no migrating raptors were seen today.
Non-raptor Observations:
Dozens of gulls danced in the morning wind, but as it grew stronger, they
resigned to the exposed lakebed, along with Canada Geese and Mallards. All
the birds eventually gained an even brown belly as they paddled through the
mud. The local eagle pair made huge sweeping circles around the sky, but
they too were grounded by the afternoon gales. A Mourning Dove and the pale
resident red-tail were the only other birds to brave crossing the slip.
Predictions:
Tomorrow the winds will ease and turn west, but they will still be
considerably forceful at 20mph and 40mph gusts. The temperature will
continue to feel like it’s in the low teens, and may be worse than today
as the tree line cannot shelter us as well from western winds. If there
are any raptors traveling tomorrow we would be truly surprised.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Erika Van Kirk (<erika_vankirk...>)
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
