Closed Notices

 Sat Oct 24, 26

Diving Sharpies and Barometor Readings

10 23 26 Friday

In this post, Bill speaks of Sharp-shinned Hawks diving on other Hawks.  This is a behavior we often see when migrating hawks pass over the breeding territory of local hawks.  The local birds tends to shoo them on through.  Not generally excessively threatening. but just enough to say, when you come back this way in spring, remember this is MY territory.  But interestingly enough, that doesn't mean that we have mixed kettles or multiple close kettles of differing birds attacking  each other the whole way.  In fact it is not abstract to look up to find a mixed kettle  gladly sharing a lift of air, to make the next glide from heights to miles away a little easier for all involved.  

Bill also mentions the barometric pressure went down.  Through the years, it had become obvious at some point to record keepers that when the barometric pressure dropped and generally approached 30 or below. some good flights have arrived.  We have discussed that it may have a lot to do with this lift thing. Birds can come from heights as the barometer falls. because there is an actual something happening in the air around us, when is the life's blood of migration.  Where columns of air provide lift, is the trail most migrants prefer for the greater part of their trek.  There will always be a bit of weather data on Bill's report, and seeing the correlation through the day is often an interesting thing. 

Here's the report:

OCTOBER IS GOING TOO FAST

 Thurs. October 22, 2026

American White Pelicans - A Personal Fave

October 21 '26 , Wednesday

It's fun to be able to record other sightings at the Hawk Watch. I remember the first time I saw a flock fly low over our heads from the South.  I remember saying. "Look UP!" Being directly over my head, I couldn't exactly tell what they were. I was hoping someone with a better angle would.  They often congregate just north of us on the Tennessee River near Hiwassee, on or near the Island across from the Indian Museum Overlook.  But they can be found all along the River's edge in little nooks from the watch all the way up. 

Welcome, Jim Rowell! Thanks for coming up.

Here's the report:

Beautiful Weather and Continued Hawks

 Tuesday October 2026

Turkey Vultures are generally midday birds. They seldom leave a perch until their wings dry midmorning. Sharpies will fly early. Bald Eagles leave their roosts at about 7am.  So it's never a surprise to have the midday have Vulture numbers.

Here's the report:

Largest Number Of Turkey Vultures Yet This Season

I have been very sick for several days so I am behind in posting. But I felt like I could get at least on of these up. More if it goes well and I don't make mistakes.  But it is going to be short and sweet because I am still struggling.  So excited that Bill is able to capture these latter season TVs.  There could be a lot more to come. Here's the report:

Good Numbers of TVs Going Forward?

October 18, '26 Sunday

It is said Turkey Vultures and Red-Tailed Hawks merely shift more than Migrate. Ok, I might call the Red-tailed move a shift because they just aren't seen farther south into South America I think it is. But Turkey Vultures  can bee seen in large kettles all across the sky when we travel West to Nashville and again in spring. This is no small movement. And the numbers get huge on the border watches.  So what does it look like in comparison in the Panama region. It is easy to find out with 

https://hawkcount.org/ 

At the time of my writing the server is a bit overloaded with people catching up on their reports .  So I will have to come back to this.  Or maybe you can.  Compare the rise in Red-tailed Hawks counted at sites south of the border to the rise in Turkey Vulture counts south of the border.  It because of data that I can make an entirely unsubstantiated claim, off the top of my head, right or wrong, and you can go and find the truth. Nowdays, I almost demand you find out for yourself. Put the numbers to the test but be fair.  Consider there are more than one flyway for migrating Hawks. vast areas of difference in ecological differences in the nesting grounds of various birds leaving out of the North. And the numbers from the East of the US don't directly compare to the numbers out of the Western counts. Most specifically, to the kinds of raptors which can be found in the west vs the east, how their competition for food and other life blood needs will differ. Just always be fair. 

Here's the report: