Two More Golden Eagles - 16 Oct 2025

I headed down to the Detroit River Hawk Watch this afternoon after a celebratory lunch courtesy of a Nelson's Sparrow at Pt. Mouillee SGA. Arriving at just before 1 pm I checked in with the counters to learn that 4 Golden Eagles had been seen already this morning.

Turkey Vultures were kettling in various locations over Celeron Island and the south end of Gibraltar, and moving north in surprisingly large numbers (we'd tally 8000+ by day's end). While scoping one kettle forming over the Gray House Tree I spotted a low-flying bird coming directly toward us. The golden nape was unmistakeable and I called out "Golden Eagle" to the group. This would be #5 for the day. It flew almost directly overhead and gave wonderful looks to all.

 

Less than a half-hour later Mark Hainen spotted Golden Eagle #6. It took me forever to see it among a kettle of Turkey Vultures over the Brain Tree (which I also couldn't find) but eventually spotted it flying over the boat launch area. It was much higher up and showed the white tail and white windows as it soared overhead.

We'd end the day with 7 Golden Eagles sighted, as well as the scads of TV's.

Lake Erie Metropark--Detroit River Hawk Watch, Wayne, Michigan, US
Oct 16, 2025 12:52 PM - 2:52 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Clear, cool, winds 5-10 from ESE.
26 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  6
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  7
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  1
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  36
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)  10
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  1
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  6
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  6
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  2500     Detroit River Hawk Watch
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)  2     Adult and subadult flyover at hawk watch. Pics
Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)  6
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii)  2
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)  2
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)  4
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)  2
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)  6
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)  2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  34
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  4
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  8
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S279754511

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