American White Pelicans!!!

Today was a delightful day, with friends visiting the watch.  Hugh Barger had visited yesterday, when I had just noticed that he was in some pictures from an earlier year. Wondered could he get back up this year, and it's as if he read my mind.  There were wonderful looks at Bald Eagles while he was there.

Today, Jimmy, Bill and I  were joined by Ruth Ann Henry and some friends from her Bird club, whom she had encouraged to meet her there.  We welcomed Jim and Rachel Harwell from Fayetteville, TN. & Joyce and DeWayne Adams of Winchester, TN.  Both couples drove a long way to be with us, as several often do.  And they came well prepared to stay a while.  Such good company. Hope they felt it was worth the trip. 

Earlier, a number of Broad-winged Hawk Kettles had moved through, but only a few while they were there.  But the high-light of their afternoon was a first ever sighting from our 24 years on the watch.



American White Pelicans, extremely high at this point, under a bit of gray cloud. Although they showed up beautifully against the very bright blue of the sky, the camera didn't pick them up as well there.  What a beautiful sight when their white bodies and black wing tips crossed over us at a much lower altitude.  I didn't have the camera up at the time. Took my breath away.

WE HAD 26 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS  fly through from South to Northwest.  Before leaving our airspace they stopped to elevate them selves to great heights on a thermal just above us. So we had a nice long time to watch them as they rose higher and higher before moving on.  The strong N winds were evident as they entered the thermal quite a bit north of us, and by the time they reached its top, they were driven back just over the top of us!  We fully expected them to fly toward the Hiwassee Refuge or upriver where they have been staying for weeks on end each recent winter. But they surprised us by seeming to head toward Bledsoe Co. LOL Wonder if we will hear of sightings there?  An interesting note, is that our friends, Pete and Marge Krampe, who have White Pelicans in the river near their home each winter, have let us know they will visit us soon.  What fun if she tells us how 26 Pelicans flew into the waters in their back yard on Thursday evening.  Wouldn't that be a hoot. 

The clouds were really wonderful today.  It was hot, but the canopies helped immensely, and there were light winds under 10 from the N/NE.  Just as many days this week.  The Barometer started a bit lower today, and dropped to 30.02.  The closer to 29.? the better.  For we have just had great numbers so many times when the Barometric pressure was lower.  Kettles of hawks weren't extremely low, but many times we got most everyone on them.  So that was great. Jim and Rachel have some great hawk-watching experience under their belts, and were great at making ID's.  We all felt like kindred spirits.

Here are the numbers:
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016

Broad-wings     254
Sharp-shins           3
Coopers Hawks    1
American Kestrel 2 F
_______________
Totals:          259 Raptors

One of those pesky Bald Eagles. LOL ...like never.
(cropped from a much larger picture of deep blue sky)

Also seen, as on many days, those local uncountable Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Sharp-shinned, Coopers Hawks and Black and Turkey Vultures.  Along with the Beautiful pair of Adult Bald Eagles, flashing their bright white tails and heads all over the sky, multiple times through-out the day. The head and tails contrast nicely and flash white against the sky, visible when their wings aren't.

 

Our best hour today was the 12:00 hour with 137 hawks passing in several kettles or singles. 

The next few days will reveal the bulk of our Broad-wing Count.  We have no expectations of having huge numbers without a front to back them up.   And without daily weather to cause them to need to rise in thermals.  We will just have to wait and see what these days hold.

Just want to say once again that we have to leave early Sunday, however, there may be others who will remain, if it is the only day you can attend.  Please check here or on the Facebook page to find out for sure if no one is able to stay the second half of the day. Of course, you are always welcome to come and sit at any time.  Make it your very own Hawk watch day.  Test your skills at getting onto and Identifying migrants.  It would be satisfying, I am sure.

As always, I am reminding you to -

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!!!

Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson