Finally, Some Calm Winds - 06 Nov 2025

 

The last several days have seen clouds and high winds (up to 45 mph) that have hampered hawk watching at the Detroit River Hawk Watch. This morning, however, skies were clear, calm, and at 28ºF a brisk day with some promise of a raptor flight. 

I arrived at Lake Erie Metropark shortly before 9:30 am and found this Red-tailed Hawk (juvenile) in a tree next to the road. With the Sun at its side it was a bit dark against the bright sky.

But pulling ahead brought to a better angle where I could photograph the bird from inside the car without it flushing. 

Jo (Patterson) and Andrew (Sturgess) were at the Boat Launch and bundled up and scanning the mostly clear skies for any raptors. Things were slow with only American Crows moving. I'd count more than 560 over the course of one hour, alone.

By 10:30 am raptors were starting to move with several Red-tailed Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks passing high overhead while small kettles of Turkey Vultures started forming and (luckily) passed directly overhead, as well.

I would have to leave shortly after 11 am just as high cirrus clouds started moving in along with shifting winds that would slow the count. Still, Jo, Andrew and Don (Sherwood) would end the day with 139 raptors that included 43 Red-tailed Hawks, 77 Turkey Vultures, and 8 Red-shouldered Hawks.