Date: 11/28/25 2:21 pm From: <reports...> Subject: [birders] Detroit River Hawk Watch (28 Nov 2025) 6 Raptors
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 28, 2025
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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, Erika Van Kirk,
Jerry Jourdan, Johannes Postma, Sam Heilman
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:
Despite a rising barometer, and deceptive early sunshine, the notion that
November had renounced its Iron-Claw grip on our last week of the watch was
soon dispelled. At first, cumulus clouds with white overtones swept in,
only to be quickly replaced by a more Machiavellian collection of closely
arranged army-clouds ready to do sinister things if so directed. We could
see snow, possibly lake-effect, falling from the distant clouds over the
lake. For once, the whitecaps, driven by the westerly anti-trade winds,
were headed to the Ohio shore, rather than ours. The wind speed was
significant, reaching twenty-three mph at its peak, and spending most of
the day in the fifteen to twenty mph bracket. The temperature peaked at
thirty-three degrees, but spent nearly all day in the freezing zone, as
evidenced by the expanding thin ice sheet on the shallow water in front of
us. The water level had recovered somewhat from yesterday, but was still
low, with areas of bottom vegetation exposed. Completing the trek to the
boat launch in a motor boat was challenging, as we noticed an abundance of
caution, and muddy wakes, in the few that dared try it.
Raptor Observations:
It was hard to declare a winner today. The few birds that were hardy enough
to fly into an adverse wind all deserved a pat on the scapulars. Three
red-tailed hawks did not help much in our deficit of this species this
year. It is extremely unlikely, with the weather forecast for the next two
days, that we will accomplish more to change that shortage. One, was the
loneliest number for three species today. A lone northern harrier came by
early, a juvie bald eagle with distinct markings was counted, and our bird
of the day was a beautiful young golden eagle that took some time to reach
us, as the winds pushed it back when it paused to soar. They always proceed
at a measured regal pace, it’s a good thing they are not headed to South
America with the broadwings.
Non-raptor Observations:
The ducks seemed very active today for some reason. Perhaps the urge to
move soon is making them take to the air. Lots of dabblers and geese were
in the shallow waters in the slip, where they had access to the bottom, and
were in the lee of the nearby breakwall. Tundra swans were perhaps our most
frequent flyer. Lots of flights were spotted, at times with their signature
calls helping to locate them.
The local eagles, who love high winds, were in their element today,
covering huge amounts of ground with little effort expended. Our very local
birds, next to us at the site, were American tree sparrows and juncos, with
a red-bellied woodpecker thrown in for good measure. The largest group of
Bonaparte’s gulls we have seen were present in the morning for a brief
time, but sought more sheltered waters as the wind increased.
Predictions:
Tomorrow has one positive thing, a rising barometer in the early morning
hours. The rest of the forecast is a lot less positive. The barometer will
plunge about seven tenths in the afternoon and evening of Saturday with
southern winds, and snow of unknown quantities, but usually spoken of in
multiples of inches, on the agenda. The big drop in pressure will kick up
the wind speed again, to the high teens on Sunday, mostly from a westerly
direction but with a slightly southern flavor. Birds don’t like low
pressure areas, so the odds of seeing significant numbers of birds are less
than the odds of getting numb hands and feet while looking for them.
November just doesn’t like us this year….
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Report submitted by Andrew Sturgess (<ajyes72...>)
Detroit River Hawk Watch information may be found at:
http://www.detroitriverhawkwatch.org
