Common Eiders and an Eastern Fox Snake - 24 Sep 2026
Strong ESE winds today made for tough conditions at the Detroit River Hawk Watch this afternoon. Winds were blowing (15 mph) Turkey Vultures to the north along the Canadian shoreline so few birds were crossing in the vicinity of the count site (Boat Launch at Lake Erie Metropark). Andrew (Sturgess) got a text message from Paul Cypher that 7 Common Eiders were spotted flying north from Metzger's Marsh in NW Ohio, then reported passing by Sterling State Park in Monroe by Geoff Malosh and heading our way. I decided to take a run to Cover Point at the Metropark to see if maybe they'd make a showing. I drove to Cove Point and found Justin Labadie scoping Lake Erie to the south. Winds were blowing strong and there was a chop on the water that made visibility tough. Hundreds of Double-crested Cormorants and Ring-billed Gulls did not help, either. He was there only 15 minutes or so (lunch break) so I stayed a few minutes longer. As he was heading back to the car I spotted 7 brown...
