Red-tailed Hawks - 25 Oct 2025
My plan to visit the Detroit River Hawk Watch this morning started with a short walk at Elizabeth Park. Weather was conducive for a good flight today so I wanted to be there for possible Golden Eagles and/or Rough-legged Hawks.
Arriving at 8:30 am I headed to the north end of the park and found a Red-tailed Hawk perched high in a dead snag and illuminated nicely by the rising Sun.
The trails were relatively quiet until I came across a small flock of Ruby-crowned Kinglets. A single Golden-crowned Kinglet was among them.
Near the maintenance yard a flock of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings were foraging in the grape vines for fruit. Overhead an Eastern Phoebe flew in and perched for several minutes.
Several Dark-eyed Juncos flew in, as well.
I'd run into a small flock of Dark-eyed Juncos down the trail near the north end of the park.
Returning to the north end I found another Red-tailed Hawk.
As I watched the hawk a flock of White-throated Sparrows began to forage at my feet. I had to back up to photograph them. They seemed unaffected by my presence.
I was hoping to find some warblers, but I'd have to wait another day.
Elizabeth Park (Trenton), Wayne, Michigan, US
Oct 25, 2025 8:15 AM - 9:06 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.68 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Clear, calm, cool, 37F
18 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 160
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 12
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 9
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 7
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 13
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 11
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 17
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Oct 25, 2025 8:15 AM - 9:06 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.68 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Clear, calm, cool, 37F
18 species
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 160
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 12
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 1
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) 2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 4
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) 1
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 2
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 9
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 7
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 13
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) 11
Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) 17
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S2
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
I then drove over to Lake Erie Metropark and the Boat Launch for the Detroit River Hawk Watch. Skies were sunny but raptors were not flying. No birds would be seen until about 10:30 am when the first kettles of Turkey Vultures appeared well to the south over Celeron Island. In the meantime I walked over to the maples to photograph a half-dozen Yellow-rumped Warblers foraging in the grape vines.
I'd have to run home for lunch so I'd miss 3 Golden Eagles and our first Rough-legged Hawks of the season.
