Summer Finally Ends? - 08 Oct 2025

Robin and I took an afternoon drive to Lake Erie Metropark to visit the Detroit River Hawk Watch. After 4 days of 80ºF temperatures on SW winds we found ourselves with jackets and facing a brisk 60ºF on N winds. 

Winds were blowing strong enough that any Turkey Vultures appearing over Canada would require scope views to count, would drift over Lake Erie before drifting back. Most birds passed well to the south of the count site. At the end of the afternoon, however, winds settled down and a massive push of Turkey Vultures forced the crew of the hawk watch to work overtime counting over 13,000 birds!

Only a few Sharp-shinned Hawks,

Turkey Vultures, 

and Blue Jays passed close enough to photograph,

Finally, a pair of Red-tailed Hawks came overhead and gave nice looks. 

We left before 3 pm when the birds started showing, so shout-out to the counters for tallying our biggest day this season! Especially to Jo for getting us our first Swainson's Hawk of the season!