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 found the first Golden Eagle flying overhead and coming straight at us. Though high up it made a couple of circles above us and gave nice looks before drifting toward the Sun and to our southwest.










I spotted a second eagle approaching from over the lake, and it was Don who made the call when it finally came close enough to show the diagnostic white wing patches and white tail.

Though I had to leave shortly after noon we would finish the day with 5 Golden Eagles to cap the 3049 Turkey Vultures, 89 Red-tailed Hawks, and 21 Red-shouldered Hawks. 


Holiday Beach Hawk Watch recorded 21 Golden Eagles! So its possible that some of these birds may cross our way tomorrow unless they skirted us to the south and crossed already.

Lake Erie Metropark--Detroit River Hawk Watch, Wayne, Michigan, US
Oct 26, 2024 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Clear, windy, cool, 49F; Michael, Michelle, Bill, Mark, Don and me
26 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  6
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  2
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  1
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)  2
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  18
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)  6
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  4
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  6
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  2
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  1500     3049 were recorded at Detroit River Hawk Watch today. Large kettles forming over Celeron Island and across the channel kept us busy morning and afternoon.
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)  2     Holiday Beach recorded 21 and we recorded 5. I was present for two. Pics.
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)  15
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii)  1
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  6
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)  4
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  12
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  12
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  350
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  15
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  6
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  12
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)  14

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S200485178

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)