Longing for RAIN

Did you ever regret not doing something very simple? Well, I do today. I was so tired yesterday that when our Hawk-watching friends came to help, we not only weren't much fun, I  forgot to take  a picture of everyone. We've been trying to document about everyone, especially if I don't have a picture of them up.  But, we are blessed with people who continue to come out and spend a few hours on the watch.  Yesterday, Jim Rowell was able to come back up for the morning. He was soon joined by eagle eyed Lora McBride,  and later Cyndi and Steve Routledge came and sat out the day.

Thankfully, Bill sent a few pics from the day before.  I'll scatter them down through here.

Jim Rowell
 

Lora messaged me upon arriving home, as we asked her to. She has a small kettle of Broad-wings after 6:00.  We certainly wondered might they be flying a little lower after it cooled a bit, or flying down the Bledsoe/Sequatchie side more than ours.  We still don't have enough data to make a conclusion, but we do know there were some.  If Lora had more time, we would put her to work documenting that side of the ridgeline. LOL

 Cindy and Steve got there in time to just see one kettle of 48 BW's. They were so high and tiny, not sure they both got on them, but because I was counting, I failed to get Lora on them.  She has been there when they were more visible though, so she knows how wonderful it can be to see them kettling.  It's what makes her come back each year. As with many, either to see it once again, or hopeful that you might. 
(spell ck always respells kettling as kittling. Is that really how it's spelled? Wow, would that ever be colloquial.)

Thank you friends for coming! I hated the numbers were low.  And we weren't much fun. But we never tire of, or forget how blessed we are, to have that special company.  And a few helpful eyes scanning the skies.

The sun was brutal, and the hawk-watching slow, but there were birds everywhere. Cindy found a Magnolia Warbler shining out past our seats.  And dozens of butterflies past us every hour.  Monarchs numbers are definitely down. NO doubt about it.  And maybe even dragonflies a bit.  Although we most definitely see the Broad-wings catching food on the wing, probably dragonflies. One day it was seen more often than most. We called that our dragonfly catching day.

Yesterday was the Blinkin' Out day. Over and over someone said, "I've got a bird and it's...where'd it go?"  One minute you could see them, and the next they were no where to be found.  And it happened to all of us.  Even that whole kettle disappeared soon after we counted it never to be seen again.  There is a deep blue haze that some people were thinking was clouds when they were zoomed in onto a bird flying through it. But when they took the binocs down, they realized, there was no cloud to be seen.  Just dusty dark haze.  After a while, I realized, we probably could have seen a lot of Broadies, had it not been for them flying through that haze. That has certainly happened to us in the past.

Good numbers have been seen at watches to the North of us.  I might rain some tomorrow afternoon.  A good rain would clear the air, and set a few down for a later flight.  We still have a week to see more hawks coming through.  Hope it rains a good bit, not just because we need it so badly, but my eyes could use a rest too.  Here's to hoping for a great week.

Bald Eagles were so high yesterday, and playing around that it often took the scope to determine if they were actually Bald Eagles. More than once they looked more like Red-tails or Vultures with their feet hanging to cool them.  Sometimes we presume they go high because of upper winds or the rising thermals. But there is a third possibility. They just might be escaping the ground heat. I bet it's cooler up there!

Owl in the briar patch.  Hoping a hawk will ck it out and fly in low.

Here's Jimmy's post to TN-Bird:

SMHW 9-24-2016
Hamilton Co., TN

79 Broad-winged Hawks
 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
 1 Bald Eagle (adult)

It seems like a family reunion as various counters
from the past continue to show up.  Today Lora
McBride made a return appearance! Also present was
Jim Rowell until he had to leave for the football
game.  A BIG huge welcome to Steve & Cyndi Routledge,
first time visitors.  We only regret we couldn't show
you guys more hawks.

After so many days of 90+ degree heat, we are so looking
forward to Monday and Tuesdays promise of temperatures to
reach only into the upper 70's!

Cynthia & Jimmy Wilkerson
Hixson, Hamilton co., TN

KEEP LOOKIING UP!!!