Windy but Golden Morning - 26 Oct 2024
Winds were out of the NW this morning, and with a rising barometer we expected a good flight of raptors at Detroit River Hawk Watch. Skies were clear and it was a cool 49F. Thing were a bit slow to start with a couple of resident Bald Eagles making relatively low passes over our heads. Turkey Vultures began flying shortly after 10 am with large kettles and squadrons forming over Celeron Island, Canada, and Lake Erie to the south. But enough birds were flying to the north that Michael (Patrikeev) enlisted Michelle and Bill (Peregord) to manage those birds, along with Blue Jays and American Crows that were also flying in large groups. Don Sherwood would join Mark (Hainen) and me assisting Michael w/ the southern-flying birds. Red-tailed Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks made appearances, and some even flew close enough to photograph. A few Sharp-shinned Hawks were flying, as well as Cooper's Hawks , including this local that blasted out of the trees behind us. It was Mark who
