DATA IS DATA

Yesterday was a tough day to keep our eyes to the skies.  Intense blue skies and sun taxed us a bit, although fading numbers in Broad-wing counts, gave way to increasing numbers of Accipiters, and others. For several days the hawk count died about 3:30 to 3:45.  Although we stayed later a couple of those days, without much luck, we left yesterday, just because we were tired.  All in all, the coverage this year has been phenominal.  Someone has spent some time on the hill, even on days we could not be there, and when weather broke late in the day as well.  Almost every possible hour has been covered.

On one of the good days last week, we stayed past 6:00pm and were still seeing hawks at heights streaming through 2 or 3 at a time; and one slow day we stayed only to see a Harrier around 6.  This is unusual for most days, because I dont' remember anyone saying they had steady counts through til that late before. 

We are attempting to help all our hawk watch friends understand...Data is Data.  Positive or negative.  High numbers or few.  Each bit of the puzzle helps us understand which days are promising, and which will require skill and long slow hours.  There are no promises to see hawks on any day, but due to data, we find we can still expect the cold fronts during late September, to still indicate good watch days to follow.

One of my favorite bits of information this year, has been an answer to the question:
"If we aren't seeing hawks, are they moving through to the north and west of us, possibly in as large numbers as we have seen in past years?"  The answer is in this year's data.  Although our YTD totals for Broad-wings is lower this year than we hoped, the extremely large group of hawks we were able to see but not count in the NW skies, was proof that there were hawks moving through,  NW of us. In large numbers.

The second question we often ask is:
"Do they ever get up into the clouds, and therefore are not within view?" We saw evidence of this in a previous year, when we actually saw a kettle disappear into the clouds at a distance, and about time they reached our air space, they could be seen dropping from between the clouds where we counted almost exactly the number we extimated had gone into the clouds.  But we once again saw this on numerous occasions this season, to the extent that our visitors remarked several times that they were seeing the thermaling hawks disappering into the clouds.

That brings about the 3rd question we often hear, and have wondered about:
"Do the hawks fly above the clouds so we can't count them?"  And again, the answer is "yes."
We see evidence of this fact when hawks suddenly materialize into view, dropping through the clouds at close range. We often see hawks rise into the skies until they are such tiny specks that very few can still see them. Seeing hawks disappear, when they are much larger than specks, lets us know that they have the capacity to get much higher than some of the lower clouds that sometimes blanket our viewing area. Today was a day like that, so we were asked a couple of times by visitors, could the hawks be flying above this, to which the answer is yes.

Were there likely large numbers we missed over the last two days.  We don't think so.  And at least, my primary reason for that belief is the direction of the winds.  SW winds are extrememly difficult winds for Broad-wings, or any migrating bird to confront, if that is the direction the migration is taking them.  (Fall)  It would be excellent riding winds in Spring on the return journey however.

We watched a Kestral today, which would flap contantly into the wind, but the second it stopped flapping, it dropped 15 to 25 feet as though it had hit a brick wall, and would begin to flap again, and get lift back toward it's path, only to experience the same 30 or 40 feet later.  Over and over that poor bird attempted to cross from the ridge to our location, just to have the wind knock it back.  It finally, just took a nose dive into the trees on the ridge and we didn't see it again all day.

A Broad-wing late in the day, had plenty of altitude, but was blown back as it turned it's usual soaring loops, so much that we had to watch it carefully to be sure it wasn't a kiting Red-Tailed Hawk.  But, after watching it struggle to get lift against the winds, it finally tucked and bulleted into the SW taking advantage of that wind to keep it aloft.  It was obvious that both these birds were having to expend way too much energy for the distance they traveled. SW winds don't benefit the migrating hawk which needs the ease of thermals to lessen the stress.

The last 3 days have given us low numbers, but great looks at some of the birds.  And they have reminded us that even negative data, is good data.

Here are the stats:

Friday, 9/27/2013
41 BW's
 3 CH
 2 S/S
 1  AK
 2  OSP
  2 BE
_____________________
Total Countable Raptors: 51            

Our daylist was 20 birds: included Bluebirds, Hummers, and a chipping Thrush we couldn't see to ID.
Watchers: J&C, Harold Birch, Bill Holt, and visitor Jeffrey Schaarschmidt.


Saturday, 9/28/2013
24 BW
 1  CH
 6 S/S
  1 NH
  2 RT including one very dark, still mulling over exact call.
  1 BE
____________________
Total Countable Raptors 35

Our daylist included 19 species with a Rose-breasted Grosbeak being new to the list.
Watchers were: Harold Birch, J&C, and Bill Holt

Sunday 9/29/2013
 8 BW
 2 S/S
 1 CH
 1 PG
 1 Osp
 3 BE
_____________________
Total Countable Raptors  16

Our daylist included 19 species again, and we figured out that the tiny chip note were field sparrows in the grass.  (Note: we actually saw a few things Jimmy failed to list, but I can't fault him, because he stays pretty busy keeping stats, checking and recording weather data, and  keeping up with our flow of visitors. He occasionally actually gets to scan the skies for a while.)

Watchers and visitors: J&C, David and Jackie Boykin of Statesboro, GA with Jennifer Taylor, Jackie's sister, and their Mom; Mark McShane & Pat Markey, both of GA,  and friends and regulars, Ruth Ann Henry and Charles Murray.  Also, Jeffrey Schaarschmidt was able to get by this evening.

Charles came with a request to see a Peregrine Falcon that wasn't a speck and was happily rewarded. Ruth Ann desired a Bald Eagle and got two.  But Jeffrey's request for a Northern Harrier for his life list didn't happen. Sorry.  David Boykin only wanted to see a small kettle and we couldn't pull one out of the skies today.  Had wanted to meet Pat because he is from the county we once lived in, where we have family, and look forward to visiting him when we are there.  And Mark was with us on one of our really big days in the past and forgave us for not producing a repeat performance today. LOL 

Many thanks to all our friends who have come by from all over 3 states.  Some traveled a very long way to drop by the Hill.  I sincerely hope all who didn't get to see the kettles coming through will not give up, and will come again!

Today is the final day of our manning the post with the intensity of almost daily presense.  We are sorry to say, we will need to approach October and November with a go when we can attitude. Please don't let it stop any of you from taking a chair and visiting a while with your friends, or a relaxing hour or two alone.  Just please always leave the area clean and comment here, or by email* what you were able to see.  Happy Hawking to ALL.

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP!

Reach Jimmy at TenacBirder@comcast.net

Thanks to all!!!!