Mystery Bird in Tami's Message

Sunday, Sept 27 26. I love that Tami included a mystery bird in her message and report today. We sometimes record them as Unidentified, but Tami lost the bird in the sun, as will often happen. We can't know if it was a migrant. But it warrants discussion. Because, it is not always easy to ID even the common Hawks as opposed to something we would love to record, that is not so common. With Red-tailed hawks, there are also some features that make them unique. Examples woulld be, Light and Dark Morphs, Harlans and Leucistic birds...and other titles given to certain looks of Red-tails,which are not typical - with a red tail. Another factor, for identification of all hawks, is that a juvenile bird can look quite a bit different than an adult. So since this Mystery Bird caught a long-time counter's attention, I know it was worth checking out. After this report I am putting up some pictures I gleaned from online to represent 3 hawk species which can be misidentified pretty easily when they are not in the expected plumage of an Adult version........... It takes a long look sometimes to find the features you need to make an ID. That is exactly what Tami was trying to do when her hawk didn't present with common ID features. She was going down a checklist of things that could help ID a unique bird, and as she did that, nothing was coming up difinitive. Then the bird flew into the sun, and her check list was interrupted before she could ck it all out. When that happens, it leaves you with a sense of wanting to have seen more. It sticks with you for a few days. Ask me how I know. There are things that given time, would have identified her bird. But they might not be the first things you look at..... Distant birds sometimes require a silouette ID. Knowing wingshape, tail length, and relative size in comparison to something else. This is true between 3 specific Hawks. And Tami was on the trail to Identifying any one of the 3.( I added the 3rd to the discussion, not her, for discussions sake.) Although after the fact, we would probably rule out at last one, based on it being a Western Hawk, stranger things have happened than seeing a bird out of it's expected range. But she rightly focused on 2...... Noting features that could occur mostly in one or the other, but in morphs or juveniles can occur in both, or either or. Gets complicated. And notice, in her message, she said "spots on the legs like..." Guess what. The bird with the most dominant spotted legs in light morph is the western bird. LOL So, she was trying to gather evidence, if you will. The 3 hawks are Red-tailed, Rough-legged, and Ferrouginous. I looked through dozens of online photos and kept seeing articles of how these 3 were most like one of the others as a similiar species. ...................Here is a quote from one of our posts many years ago, where I searched for the instances we have seen the Rough-legged Hawk: "But the one thing I haven't mentioned at all are the unique individuals that we have seen.(# 8) In all these years we have only managed to count 3 Mississippi Kites, 1 Northern Goshawk, and 1 Rough-legged Hawk. The rarest of our species. But there have only been 61 Merlins, and 18 Golden Eagles. I didn't get to see the NG or the RL, and am not sure I could have ID'd them at the time." Now, Numbers for Merlins and Golden Eagles may have changed since then. But the other 2, not so much. I didn't have time to actually search for an actual update; Bill would probably know off the top of his head. But Rough-legged would have been pretty cool for Tami and Bill..... Years ago, there was one that stayed around for the winter on the other side of the mountains in the Sequatchie Valley. Like with kites, things are seen over there, we wish would come over to our valley. So it was also not unreasonable for Tami to ck out a hawk that wasn't common looking. I really hate she didn't have a little more time. But even then sometimes, you just can't be sure. Thanks for bringing me back to the watch, with memories of trying to ID a hawk but, only walking away with visions of it in my head. LOL Here's her message and her count sheet, followed by 4 hawk pics to review, that if I saw these backlit by sun, I am sure I would struggle to pick out the Rough-legged for certain.

Light Morph RT Aug 28 25 Echo Oregon by Mark Ludwick of Pacific NW Birding on FACEBOOK .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Light Morph Rough-Legged Hawk from FACEBOOK New England Wildlife ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Juvenile RT from Birdfact.com, articles on RT Hawks .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Ferrufinous Hawk from All About Birds....................... Notice the banding on the tail, which Tami described, is missing on THIS bird. I could not find an instance where a feruginous had banding on it's tail. However they have a very reddish upper tail in many cases, which when backlit by sun looks just like a lighter colored adult RT. The exceptionally long wings, and no bands on the tail...Not her bird, no possibility for a rare Western fluke. Not that she considered it. Just noting, how to rule the rare one out definitively. One final note. I have seen Red-tails almost completely devoid of the checkerboard banding on their underwings, shown in these 2 RT pictures, and the one at the top of our page. Some RTs are so white underneath you wonder if they are leucistic. Which we have seen. But it has to be noted, that at least 1 completely Albino looking RT has been reported on several occasions by people up on Jones Gap RD. Reputable birders have tagged me in pics, or mentioned them on FACEBOOK and I saw it. If the is a local, and has nested, there could be some very Feruginous looking RTs up there. If they happen to migrate over the watch, it might be a little confusing unless the counters are aware! Happy Birding to all. KEEP LOOKING UP!!! Jimmy and Cynthia

Largest Number of Hawks and Count Visitors

September 26,'26 Saturday As far as regular count days, not events, there were the most visitors to the watch Saturday yet this year. Tami was able to be there too to help with the count. Thank YOU! But we always say, more eyes to the skies, and our visitors were able to pick out or point out the hawks, as well. Welcome to all! Barb and Tim Baldwin, Aaron Thomas, Jasper Kaloi, Mina Claire, Emerson Smith, Casey Burks. Thanks for coming! What a lovely report. So glad everyone got to experience seeing hawks in numbers. Great Job everyone. Here's the report (Merlin was the new spcies for the day):

Friday With Visitors And Hawks To See!

Friday 9 25 26 - After vieving a post from Holly Taylor, showing floods of Hawks pouring into Tennessee in Putnum County, I was definitely hopeful that Bill and friends would have soome good looks. There was a Nor'Easter off the East Coast this week, which flooded some of the hawk watch towns like Cape May. That kind of storm pushes large masses of birds to inland Migratory opportunities. Having folks up in Putnam County get to experience so many, was exciting to see. It honestly looked like a day at Corpus Christi, TX from her video. She zoomed in and out to give some perspective of what size clouds and how close the birds were respectively. It was awesome to have them close enough to capture on what appeared to be her phone?? But it was a great capture at any rate. Jimmy did a little research and found that up there is a state area, where Holly has reported from recently to another records keeping source, other than HMA. That was back on Sept 18th, I think he said. Boy am I being ambiguous. I am just trying to relay that he ckd it out to see if they were another hawk watch like ours. But that location, near Cookville, could have great numbers I am sure. Anyway it was a great indicator which raised my hopes for Bill and his guests to see hawks. And they did! So glad to see our long time friend Susan Schott up, and she brought her friend Kym Martin. Hello and welcome to her. But the visitors who were the most unlikely, were brought in by Iron Man Chattanooga, occuring on Sunday. So Happy to have Boise Idaho residents Toni and Lenore Holthuijzen! Thanks for making the Hawk watch one of your destinations! Soooo happy there were hawks for you to see: Here's the Report: (in 2 parts)

Late in the Day On a Thursday...

Sept 24, 26 Thursday. Bill sent a note earlier that indicated after 2 attempts he had to leave the watch due to rain. So initially, he expected to go up tomorrow. But the rain broke about 4 and he chanced a late flight. Not a bad move. Wish he had had a flood, as has happened. But alas, We will take what he got. NOt a bad day after all. Here's the report:

Visitors To The Hawkwatch See the 80,000 Broad-winged Hawk added to the Count!!

We are questioned a lot after news articles, or TV reports about the Hawkwatch. Can I come up to see the hawkwatch? The answer is a resounding yes. During Hawkwatch seasons, it is even expected. There is a tremendous amount of interest in what it is like to be a hawkwatcher. Lately birdwatching in general is becoming attractive to younger people. From kids to young adults. the HOBBY has gotten a boost in interest across all of the US. SO, YES is the answer. But there are quite a number of things which must be understood. It is not glamorous. It's either Hot or Cold some days, rainy some days. and inconvenient every day. At our watch there are no facilities, there is no cover, and there is a bluff edge. Children are welcome, but care must be taken. Someone coming to bring their family for a half hour or so, no need for being prepared necessarily. But, if you really want to experience the hawk watch, you first need chairs. Blankets would work for kids, but there are ants and bugs... like any picnic scene, it's nature after all. Sunscreen is a must even for a little while. Water and possibly snacks are crucial. And for the best experience, at least one pair of binoculars helps. Kids who are just learning, will ususally have Turkey Vultures, Red-tails, and Bald Eagles that are possiblities and large enough to see without binoculars. And there is an infrequent opportunity with many other individual hawks to come in close enough for watchers to view them. But a lot of hawk watching is done through the binoculars and they are often quite small even then. However, on the unique day that a kettle of BWs comes in close, it will be a mesmerizing very exciting experience. Once seen it's something you will always hope to see again and again. So people sit for hours in hopes of that kettle. Yet, over time, it is just as awesome to see each and every species which passes over, and you are willing to scan the sky for hours to do that. If YOU are a Hawkwatcher at heart. Here's todays report, including exactly one family,and especially 1 of those children who just loves watching birds...who came up to see what hawk watching was all ablout. Welcome to the Longbrook family! and to Karin Britton! and a shout out to Jim Rowell, a long time watcher and and Hawkcounter on our watch. Thanks for another pair of eyes! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Here's the report: I realized after the post that we hit the nail on the head. They saw the 18 BWs needed to reach and grand total of 80,000 BWs for the 34 years of counting! Yay!

Highest BW Count So Far

Tuesday Sept 22 26, was a cloud dotted sky day for most of the morning in the valley. So we hoped it would be the same for Bill on the lookout. I was not surprised to see he had success finding a nice number. Here's the report:

Another Day With a Good Variety!

Monday, 9 21 26, and I have been slammed busy today, so I am almost learning with the reader just how the day went. Bill has been hit with thunder storms in the afternoons, so staying on the hill, is not an option with lightning possible. Here's the report: