SEASON 2014 IS IN THE BOOKS

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Jimmy has checked and double checked the 2014 Stats, and the following is his report for the Fall Season Totals:

"Soddy Mountain Hawk Watch
Flat Top Mountain, Hamilton Co., TN

2014 season totals

BV      21
TV     215
MK*      1   (juvenile)
OS       6
BE      29   ( 17 ad/ 12 im)
NH       6
SS      61
CH      24
RS      12
BW    2874
RT      94
GE*      1   (juvenile)
AK       2
ML       1
PG       4

UB      (1)  (unidentified buteo)
     ______
      3352

15 species with 3352 individuals counted
181.25 hours
35 days coverage from Sept. 10 thru Nov. 28, 2014
On slow days we recorded 59 species of birds seen from the lookout proper.

A few raptor HIGHLIGHTS from the season:
1 Our first Broad-winged Hawk was seen on Sept. 10  Our last was seen on Oct. 5
2 This year we broke 50,000 BW's seen over the years.  This happened Sept. 18 at 9:49 when 29 distant specks flew over.
3 A juvenile Mississippi Kite flew to the southwest at 11:33...only the third bird of this species in our history.
4 A immature Golden Eagle flew by on Nov. 10.  (from Bill Haley's notes:) " flew directly over the lookout about 200 yards up-great looks"

A brief summary:
We had few cold fronts, even so they were not the traditional types where a front passed and then rain for two or three days to hold up the forward movement.  Our best days were early in the season: i.e 9/17 we recorded 436 BW; 9/18 we saw 1063; 9/19 we saw 275.  The next week when counts should have been high or higher, we counted 223 on 9/23; 161 on 9/24 and 191 on 9/25.  When the calendar approaches the mid twenties is when we normally see our largest kettles and our biggest number days.  Altogether these six days represented 2549 of our 2874 Broad-winged Hawks tallied for the 2014 season!
Jimmy Wilkerson
2014 compiler"

________________________________________________________

As I wrap this up, it is a few days before Christmas. Looking back over this season, it seems uneventful in comparison to some years.  Although, we passed our landmark number of BW Hawks seen from our site this year, the overall numbers of Broad-wings seen, for as many days as we spent covering the prime days, was smaller than banner years.  Many sites saw great numbers, but the weather didn't co-operate for us to "see" the numbers passing us.  If, in fact, our speculations about those high flying birds just can't be seen on a crystal clear day with no clouds,  this year was no different than others regarding a healthy population of Broad-wings.  WE just didn't get to see them in great numbers. LOL

We could be disappointed.  But, Jimmy had personal goals for this season, and he met them.  Bill had personal goals for this season and he spent more hours fulfilling them.  Harold stuck out the duration of helping us keep the scheduled/publicized  days covered, supporting us while meeting the personal goal at home of building a barn!

The older I get, the more I know I cannot continue to be there for all those hours in the future.  Loving to see the hawks, no matter the species, continues to be a great joy for me.  I like days with variety, as much as I like days with great numbers.  And days with unique birds as well, even if we waited long hours to see it.  I love that we captured a Merlin, a Kite, a Golden Eagle, and Peregrine Falcons for the count.  It takes being there to see them fly by.  I am not sure there will be years and years more of dedication to the site, that rival this year.  I suppose our next Goal would be to just manage to make it to 25 years of data. 

We often approach each season with questions we want to answer for ourselves, and others.  For me, being there everyday for so many days all day long, rules out that just being there increases the numbers.  It doesn't.  Going on prime days does.  Yet we had a couple of the best hawk-eyes  on the watch join us on what was supposed to be 2 perfect days, and the birds didn't show.  Thank you Roi and Debbie Shannon for joining us a couple of days. For me, sharing those days with you made it seem like things were right in the world. LOL Have missed you.  And Bill Holt has become a regular during prime days.  Can never give enough credit for the joy it gives us to see him come over that hill.  It meant we could rest our eyes a bit, or at least not feel that we were missing something due to fatigue...because another set of eyes had come to the rescue.  All the times, just one more person helped us make an ID!

The numbers of visitors this year was remarkable!  I cannot say enough how much we enjoyed having hawk lovers come by in support.  We always hope that some one enjoyed learning just a bit more about Identifying hawks. I certainly hope there some of you met personal goals this year. I know that for some, first sightings, or just seeing a kettle is a goal you came with and left satisfied. Congrats on being there to meet that goal.

  And the interaction with Alix Parks and Sherry Teas, as they shared their up close and personal looks at injured/release birds was valuable in ways I never dreamed.  I have learned to ID Hawks at a distance, and remain a learner at IDing them on a limb. LOL  I shrink from calling myself a Hawk specialist for that reason above all others!

Each year I realize that I continue to be a learner, and for me that is a great part of Hawk-watching.  Each year I grow, and relearn, and learn something new.  One of my personal goals this year was to share that with our readers.  And to make good use of my camera.  So was it a successful year?
Yes!  The weather and the high flying hawks didn't co-operate some days to our heart's desire.  But we did bring our best efforts to our fellow hawk watchers and friends.  And we got a really good, solid set of data!
Cynthia....


MAY ALL OF YOUR HOLIDAYS BE SAFE AND HAPPY!!!!

Counts are over, but it's never too late to

Keep Looking Up!!

Bill says Stick a Fork In It!

"Stick a fork in it….the fall 2014 hawkwatching season is DONE!

I wish I could have put in more days of coverage at the Soddy Mountain lookout in Oct. and Nov., after the Broad-winged Hawk (Sept.) watchers retired for the season.  Unfortunately the weather conspired against me several times when I had a chance to be up there. I missed the biggest part of the accipiter migration, (35 SS and 7 Coopers is pretty pitiful compared to earlier years), and only caught a couple of decent days of the Red-tail migration. However, I’m thankful for getting to spend as much time on the lookout as I did this year. Maybe I’ll do better in 2015!

A friend in Atlanta reported many hundreds of vultures flying south over his house 2-3 days prior to my biggest count on Oct. 23. I would have loved to have been on the lookout to see that! The Turkey Vulture kettle of 123 I saw on Oct. 23 was impressive.

Another highlight was the immature Golden Eagle on Nov. 10. It flew right over the lookout about 200 yards up. (I saw one last year on Nov. 14.)

I got up there twice in this past week, and here are my totals:

 11/25/14: 2.0 hr., RT – 2, Sandhill Cranes – 92

11/28/14: 4.0 hr., BV – 9, TV – 4, BE – 4 (1 ad., 1 3^rd yr, 2 imm.), RT – 3

_________________________________________________________

I had planned to stay all day on 11/28, but realized that there were very few birds moving south – everything pretty much came to a standstill after noon -  and I got tired of scanning an empty sky and decided it would be my last day on the lookout this year.

 
(His Combined Stats for OCT and NOV 2015)

Following are my totals - just in case I forgot to report a day:

10/4/14: 4.0 hr., SS – 7, CH – 2, BW – 14

10/5/14: 4.0 hr., NH – 2, SS – 4, BW – 2, RT – 1 

10/12/14: 2.0 hr., SS – 1 

10/22/14: 1.5 hr., SS – 2, CH – 1, RS – 1, RT – 1 

10/23/14: 5.25 hr., TV 161, SS -  1, CH – 1, BE – 1, PG – 1, RT – 2 

10/24/14: 6.0 hr., TV – 22, SS – 1, CH – 1, BE – 1, PG – 1, RT – 2

10/25/14: 5.0 hr., SS – 7

11/6/14: 1.5 hr., CH – 1

11/10/14: 7.0 hr., TV – 28, SS – 5, BE – 5, GE – 1, RS – 1, RT – 49

11/11/14: 7.0 hr., NH – 2, SS – 6, CH – 1, RS – 1 RT – 23

11/12/14: 1.25 hr.

11/14/14: 4.5 hr., SS – 1, BE – 3, RT – 3

11/22/14: 3.0 hr., BV – 12, RS – 2, RT – 3

11/25/14: 2.0 hr., RT – 2

11/28/14: 4.0 hr., BV -9, TV – 4, BE – 4, RT – 3

Totals, Oct.-Nov. 2014:

BV –       21

TV –     215

NH –         4

BE –       14

GE -         1

SS –       35

CH –         7

PG -         1

BW –      16

RS –         5

RT -         89

____________

 

Total -    408

Total hrs. 58 (Oct. and Nov.)

Total hawkwatchers (Oct. and Nov.) – 1

Bill Haley"

************************************************************************************************

 

Sorry it didn't work out that we could get back up any during the last 2 months, but thankful for every hour Bill felt willing to tackle.  Proud to add 408 more raptors to the counts this year!

 

Jimmy will tackle the YTD on all the reports and give us grand totals soon. We will post the chart as soon as he does.

 

And remember,

it's never too late to

Keep Looking UP!!!

 

 

 

PS.

Jimmy and I had Red-shouldered Hawks in 2 places today, calling over and over.  Guess those are the birds which will have nests before spring. Nesting reports will be appreciated.  Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Consolidation of Bill's Watch Reports for Late Season

In Bill's last e-mail he gave Jimmy and Harold a consolidated update to be sure they were both up to date, so I am doing the same for all of you.  Making it easy to see the results of possible raptor reports after the "Broad-wing drive."  Bill reports he might have one more day, but here's the consolidated report:

11/6/14: 1.5 hrs. (Arrive 12:30, left 2:00). Wind WSW 10-20, clouds 50%, visib. 50K, temp. 66, baro. 30.03, hum. 52%. (winds very strong from wrong direction.) 

            - Cooper’s Hawk (1)

 11/10/14: 7.0 hrs. (Arrive 9:00, left 4:00.) Wind SE to ESE 2-8, thin cirrus clouds, 0-10%, visib. 5K in morning to 50K in afternoon, temp 40-68. Baro. 30.10, gradually falling to 29.99 during day. Hum. 93% to 34%. Sometimes 2-3 RT’s coming through at the same time. Action was good all day. I’d wait until they sailed south, then turn around and start scanning for the next ones.

-          Turkey Vulture – 28 (3 different groups – largest 14)

-          Bald Eagle – 5 (all adult – the last going by at eye level, very close – nice!)

-          Golden Eagle (immature) – flew directly over the lookout about 200 yards up – great looks!

-          Sharp-shinned Hawk – 5

-          Red-shouldered Hawk – 1

-          Red-tailed Hawk 49

 

11/11/14: 7.0 hrs. (Arrive 9:00, left 4:00) Wind S 5-10 in morning, less in afternoon, but still S. Visib. 35K, temp. 50-71. Baro. 30.07 gradually falling to 29.94. Hum. 83%-47%. Action slower than yesterday, but still not bad!

 

-          Northern Harrier – 2 (first one was an adult male “gray ghost” – beautiful, 2^nd was a female.)

-          Sharp-shinned Hawk – 6

-          Cooper’s Hawk – 1

-          Red-shouldered Hawk – 1

-          Red-tailed Hawk – 23

 

11/12/14: 1.25 hr. (Arrive 12:30, left 1:45). Wind N 5-12, clouds 100%, visib. 20K, temp. 49, hum. 71%, baro. 30.17. COLD and no sign of any clearing….no hawks, but at least it counts toward hours of effort.

 

11/14/14: 4.5 hrs. (Arrive 9:30, left 2:00). Wind N 10-15. Clouds 5%-10%, visib. 40K. Temp. 28 (wind chill 16) – 38 (wind chill 30). Baro. 30.33 – 30.31.Hum. 55%-39%. Brutal cold with wind right in my face. I was hoping for good numbers coming south, but it seems the hawks knew they’d better leave a couple of days before the super cold front came through. A slow day overall.

-          Bald Eagle – 3 (2 seen at same time, 3^rd year birds - liberal white speckling all over, heads beginning to turn white – both came in very close. Great looks!)

-          Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1

-          Red-tailed Hawk – 3

 

-          Sandhill Crane – 45 (first of the year.)

 

11/22/14: 3 hrs. (Arrive 9:30, left 12:30). Wind SSE 1-3, increasing to 2-8, clouds 30-35%, visib. 40K, temp. 35-55, baro. 30.46-30.39., hum. 82% - 39%. Nice day, but very slow. 

-          Black Vulture (12) all in one kettle, watched from when they were specks until they moved on south. Local BV’s visible at same time, so I counted the kettle.

-          Red-shouldered Hawk – 2

-          Red-tailed Hawk – 1 

-          Sandhill Cranes – 69 (All going west, so probably from Hiwassee. 2 passed between lookout and north ridge, below treeline – lowest I’ve ever seen. 

-          Double-crested Cormorant – 16 

-          Gulls (Ring-Billed?) – 3

At least I’ve been able to add a few late season hours. Monday the 10^th was a wonderful day to be a late season hawkwatcher!

 

Bill (Crazy late season specialist)

 __________________________________________________

 LOL

Keep Looking UP!!!!

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Jimmy and Cynthia

 

 

Wave after Wave of Red-tailed Hawks

As Bill Haley continues to man the hawk watch in this cold weather, he reports that the Red-tailed Hawks are coming through in consistently small groups.  On a humorous note, he found he saw them each time his pastor called. And has decided he would be delighted for his pastor to call more often if he so desired. LOL

The report for 11/11/14 is:

6 Sharp-shinned
1 Coopers
23 Red-tailed
1 Red -shouldered
2 Northern Harriers - 1 M, 1 F

Jimmy and I have been hard at work trying to get all my plants situated into a new hoop house, needing to complete shelving before that could be done.  Knowing this very cold front was approaching, I regretted that we couldn't spend at least one day with Bill.  I have braved the cold and winds up there one November, many years ago when I was much younger and it was extremely difficult, so I doubt I could withstand many hours. We used to discuss how we might get a source of warmth up there.  Cuddos to Bill for any time he is spending there now!!!

But if you are in a warm place, and have an hour or two, don't forget to

Keep Looking UP!!! 

You just might see your own little group of migrating raptors - Red-tails, Turkey Vultures, Accipiters, and Eagles. They are still on the move.

Oh BTW, I heard Sandhills yesterday.  Couldn't place the direction of their movement, but they should be moving south.

Thanks for checking in.
C

Immature Golden Eagle

Thanks to Bill Haley for his reports, as he continues to be able to go up to the hill every chance he gets.  His report for today, includes a note that he has several days this week he plans to watch hawks.

Jimmy reported to TN-birds the following post:

On Nov 10, 2014, at 8:16 PM, TenacBirder@comcast.net wrote:

  11/10/14
 Soddy Mtn Hawk Watch
Hamilton Co., TN

Bill Haley has often jokingly chided me that the hawks don't
 stop flying over the lookout just because Broad-winged season
 is over.  He spent many days on the lookout during October and
 now he has a week off in November.  Today he saw

 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks,
 28 Turkey Vultures,
49 Red-tailed Hawks,
 5 adult Bald  Eagles
and a first of this season immature Golden Eagle.
(updated on this report is 1 Red-shouldered Hawk also seen.)

 If  memory serves me correctly, I think he was also responsible for
the only Golden Eagle on the count last year.

If he reports anything good tomorrow I'll probably be posting
again.

 Keep Looking Up!
 Jimmy Wilkerson


P.S.  On November 6, Bill was up for 2 hours and had
 1 Cooper's Hawk.


We wish to add that we saw and heard Ravens (2 at least) above the Ocoee River at Chilhowee Recreation Area.  Elevation, 2100 ft.  Sunday, November 9th.

It's Red-tailed and Turkey Vulture migration counting time.   We saw about 40 moving through at Chilhowee as we drove along the ridge road.  

N E Winds benefit the Migrants

Hawk Mtn. reports that they watch for NE Winds that cause lift along the ridges that benefit the raptor migrants this time of year.  The best days to consider raptor watching may be the ones with NW Winds, now.

Check out their reports:
https://www.facebook.com/HawkMountainSanctuary
  Keep Looking UP!!!!!

Numbers and Variety

Bill Haley was on the hill Friday, 10/24/14 and reported seeing and counting this nice variety of  migrating raptors:

2 Northern Harriers
7 Sharp-shinned
2 Cooper's Hawks
1 Osprey
5 Red-tailed Hawks
1 Red-shouldered
23 Turkey Vultures
____________________________

 & Saturday 10/25/14 from  9 til 2, and had 7 Sharp-shins.

And they are in the books!

A nice fall day allows him to see determined birds moving South to SW, on a mission to get to warmer weather :)


Hawk Mountain had great weather yesterday and were expecting large numbers of Sharp-shinned Hawks to move through any day.  One year they had over 200 in one day.  So we can continue to expect to see nice pushes of Sharp-shinned hawks for a while.  Check out the graph which charts  when to expect numbers of certain hawks to move through on the Species Key page. (on the side panel)

 If you go to the hill yourself, remember to prepare to be cooler on that bluff.  Dress warmly with removable clothing, and take a scarf or other to shield you face if it's windy.  Also, remember the lip balm! Wind will zap the moisture from your skin. Don't forget the sun screen, even cold weather sun will burn you if you sit in it for a couple of hours.  Protect ears, nose, and the tops of your fingers, for they are holding up your binoculars to the sun.

We remain busy at home with more projects than we can get done, due to a nice unexpected blessing of reclaimable wood.  So, we first had to reclaim it, and then stack it, but we have made a compost bin and a small hot house.  Jimmy also made a neighbor's child a "club house" he was begging for, with a lot of help from his uncle.  We too are preparing for winter...I have to get my plants to warmer weather. LOL So no trips to the hill for us lately. But like us...

 If you have a moment, where ever you are-

remember to -

Keep Looking UP!!!

Bill Is Loving Warm Watch Days

Bill Haley is doing his favorite type of Hawk watching - peaceful, warm sunny days, with dabbled clouds and there are several countable kinds of hawks finding lift along the ridge.

He went up Wednesday and Thursday this week for a few hours each day and the following is his report:  (ck out the Species Key page for the hawks represented by the abbreviations)

Wednesday 10/22/14
2 SS
1 CH
1 RS
1 RT

10:30 to 12
__________________

Thursday 10/23/14
1 PG
1ABE
1 SS
1 CH
2 RT
161 TVs
(123 Turkey Vultures in one kettle, then kettles of 5, 11, 8 and 14 - dedicated southward movement)

Bill is up again today, and we might get up tomorrow.  Will post tomorrow with new updates.

If Turkey Vultures are what you see a lot of, now could be a great time to begin counting them.  If you hate counting the high specks, count Red-tails, Red-shouldered and Turkey Vultures. It's that time. Whereas we kept you from counting them during BW season, most are on the move these days.  Many will move south and be replaced with more northern birds --- it is speculated.  But they do move out of the most northern cold climes, and ours definitely desert their nesting habitats and appear again next season. So the dedicated southern flights are migration.  Take time now to learn the lights, darks and immature versions of your most familiar or favorite Raptors. Or the lack of such things. The slower pace of these hawks makes them fun to watch for a long time. See how they fly, if they kite, watch for their silhouettes. Compare sizes if possible, and get to know their details.  Use a hawk guide and use this time to learn about them if you desire to know more.  BW season is fun, but this kind of weather is a more casual, get to know the bird season. Very restful sometimes.

Remember, Hawk migration runs through November for fall season.  Great opportunities for good sightings.  BW's should be past us now, as would be Kites. Most Osprey and Peregrines are counted as coastal birds, but we still have a few. 

Keep looking UP!!!!!!!

Reports Around the Country

"Smith Point Hawk Watch (10/17/14) 14,864 raptors!"
via "textbirds" freelist. 

Thanks to Carolyn Snow for the info.  We often like to talk about other sites across the nation and the kinds and numbers of birds we are seeing there.  Smith Point is one we enjoyed visiting, and find that other birders will as well.  They report their numbers on the "textbirds" freelist, just as we report to "TNbirds" also a freelist.  This report is a very recent update title.

Freelists for Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, and Florida provide valuable info for what is being seen, and we often sign up for them, only during migrations to get info such as this. But they make great resources for making trips to see great birds.  But also remind us of the diversity of the numbers and species concentrations at other sites and locations.  Where Broad-wings are often the attractions for mountain sites, Falcons and Osprey are the draws for many coastal sites.  Kites are the focus for a site in South Carolina. And some sites also keep counts for other massing migrators, like Sandhills, Anhingahs, and Frigatebirds.

Keep Looking UP!!!!

Bill Reports

Sunday October 12, Bill Haley sat on the hill for 2 hours in the afternoon, until the storms set in.  He counted monarchs and Blue Jays which are now in full migration, but also had 1 Sharp-shinned as well.  Thanks Bill, for the coverage.  One note I wanted to make here, is that on days he has arrived early, by at least 8 am, he has also counted numerous migrating warblers and songbirds.  The hill is a great place some mornings for more than hawk viewing. 

These next few days are the kinds of days that set the hawks down North of us.  Storms moving from the SW across the entire state stop the SW movement of birds.  I imagine that when this breaks, there should be a strong movement of raptors, although not in kettles, most likely.

It isn't too late to Keep Looking Up!!!!


Bill's email:
"

I went up on the mountain from 1:30-3:30 Sunday, Oct. 12. 95% clouds when I arrived. 90% at 2pm and 100% and very murky at 3pm. Baro started at 30.07, and ended at 30.01. Temp ranged from 75-77. Visibility was 5K, 7K and 4K. It didn’t really look promising, but I thought maybe I’d get lucky and see something migrating – and I did.

 

Monarch – 5

 

Blue Jay – 14 (all in one flock heading south)

 

Sharp-shined Hawk – 1

 

The Sharp-shin was seen at 3:17 low over Fred and heading straight towards the lookout, gaining altitude as he came. Classic quick flap, flap, flap, glide pattern. Some sharpies take forever getting south. Not this one! It did what you wish all of them would do – it was moving south with a purpose. It never bothered to circle at all – just pumped for all it was worth, passing a couple hundred feet above the lookout out over the valley. I followed it almost all the way south. While I was watching it I heard the first boom of thunder behind me, decided the hawkwatching was probably over for the day and began to put things up. I stayed for a few more minutes, and by the time I got to the highway it was raining. I was happy to claim this classic migrant sharpy as my only hawk of the afternoon. It certainly made it worth the trip.

 

I have to work this coming weekend, but am looking forward to hopefully experiencing at least a few more good flight days in October and November.

 

Bill"

I include Bill's email, for a couple of reasons.  It indicates the kinds of information that is being kept in conjunction with the "NUMBERS".  The counts are important, but so are the stats.  Over the years we tell our visitors and fellow hawk watchers to be aware of the weather and environment to know when to come to the Lookout.  We can know this over years of keeping the data and making the comparisons. Jimmy looked back at the observations of Hawk Watchers into the early 50's, and the same things were being reported then as now: such as large pushes of BW's often congregate after a front which has produced a couple of days of rain, plus N/NE winds of 5-15 MPH.  Years of data back up that statement. 

Secondly, I want to note that the watchers share their data.  It is so they may be able to go back and compare notes. Now, not all watchers have all  the shared data.  But Bill, Jimmy and Harold have consistently shared their notes for years...and the cumulative results are included on the charts we place on this site.  Not one person's reports, but as many as will report with vital and experience.

Thirdly, it is often a good double check.  I initially put up that Bill had seen a single BW, but what his email says is one Sharp Shinned.  Such doubling of records helps to make corrections as well.  It's like a backup system for accuracy.

Cool weather will increase the drive for all other migrating hawks and raptors over the next two months. ck out the stats charts on The Stats Page.

Pucara, Part II on Broad-wings

Before I get into this discussion about Broad-wings -

 

THE UPDATE 

 

Bill Haley was up on Saturday, 10/4/14 and reported:

 

 

14 Broad-wings

 

7 Sharp-shinned

 

2 Coopers Hawks

______________________________

 

 

Bill Haley on Sunday afternoon - 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm, report

 

  THE UPDATE

 

 

2 Broad-wings

 

2 Northern Harriers

 

4 Sharpies

 

1 Red-tailed Hawk

 

_______________________________________________



 

When Pucara was released, after healing from a broken leg, we had a great opportunity to take pictures of the features of an immature Broad-winged Hawk, to share and learn from. I want to begin this discussion with the obvious - its size.  What a difference from the "arms full" size of the Red-tailed Hawk she released last year.  This bird's body isn't much larger than Alix's hand.  And the wings aren't much longer than her gloves.  Perhaps I have a pic that will demonstrate that as well.  Its feet not glaring with massive tallons, and the bill is somewhat small as well. Yet when they spread those wings, they look so big in the sky.  Very deceiving to see it up close.

Next, I should mention that Alix drew our attention to the light color of its eyes.  In the picture above and a couple of others we see the remnants of blue there, indicating that this bird is very young.  Not sure she said if "hatch-year" or first year, but I lean a bit to hatch year because of the blue.  Mature birds (below) have intensity of color in their eyes  - more golden.

http://boomchachalaca.blogspot.com/2012/05/up-close-and-personal-broad-winged-hawk.html
From Images, Comcast search - Boomchachalaca, up-close and personal, by Cory Ritter
Adult Broad-wing
Note: all pictures on this site are mine, unless otherwise noted, Like this one.
 

Secondly, I want to discuss coloration: In the adult, above, the "chocolate" head is definitely Chocolate.  In our immature the colors are more a general mix of dk brown, rusty red, gold and cream.  In the sun that red intensifies.

 







I have often noticed this redness of the feathers in the air.  We have heard others question why the birds appear so red sometimes when we are trying to teach how to recognize them from a distance.  Many would initially expect to call it a Red-shouldered when they see this red. They don't expect a Broad-wing to have any red.  I suspect that we are often viewing immature birds, after seeing this bird from a few feet away rather than 100+.  Every time Alix held this bird to the sun, the color intensified. I really expected the color to only be a "sheen" of reflected sun, but here, we see, it is actually a rusty red, among the feather's actual colors. 

 

Among other reasons, we find it best to direct people, looking to ID a bird from the distance, to step away from the things they expect to see in order to make an ID. Color for instance might be deceiving.  Instead, they must learn the other features that make identifying their hawks at distance possible. (see Part I)

 

Another feature of the Immature BW is the window in its wings.  Also known as the "Comma," the crescent shaped translucent area in the outer wing, will darken with age.*

  In Red-shouldered Hawks the "window" remains visible to the point of being a feature that helps us ID them.  But an immature BW side by side with a mature Red-shouldered will look almost identical except for size, in the sky.  The total outline of the wing with a dark band, and the shape of the wing and tail, might be the only thing that will tell them apart.  Even their tail banding at this stage looks similar. My son, and I once saw this in Winter, unusual because the BWs have migrated.  A single BW was soaring on the Christmas Bird-count along side  a Red-shouldered. We watched them intently for as long as we were able, through a scope, to make a certain ID.  My son, in fact, was the astute one to actually notice, and I was so glad to have had the unique and notable experience of seeing how easy the BW would be to over-look in the winter, next to a Red-shouldered. At first, most thought it was merely a male and female, whose sizes were strongly different.  But the difference was identifiable when we really examined them.  I feel sometimes, that BW immatures are mis-identified as Red-shouldered Hawks.

 

Tail-bands, dark from above
 

The more dominant, wide white in the bands of the Broad-winged Adult has not become evident so much on this bird yet.  It is however more visible from underneath, when the sun shines through.

 

 

Alix spread the wing a bit so we could see the window in this bird's wing. 

I was impressed at the unique beauty of the robe like cloak of feathers across the shoulders of this bird.  But something else this picture illustrates is the width of the wing compared to that little body.  The wing joins the back near the head, rather than lower on the neck nearer the body.  It makes the shoulders have a muscular look, as a more human shape. The wing also covers low on the tail, displaying none of the lower body.  Therefore, a relative broad wing.  In flight the tail seems short and shows fewer of the bands than a Red-shouldered Hawk.  This makes the wider light bands seem even bolder and wider.

 

Since, the size between Males and Females, Immature and Adult birds can differ greatly, a kettle of Broad-wings can appear to have different sized birds.  Size can not always help us tell if a small male Red-shouldered is among them.  It is hard to tell without paying close attention to the wing shape, the forwardness of the BW wings compared to the outward roll of the Red-shouldered, and the longer tail with more and narrower banding of the RS.  If close enough, a Red-Shouldered's wings may also display a checkered effect in the feathers, not present in the BW.

 

Red-shouldered for comparison, separation
between wing and body/tail makes tail look
longer

Checkered underwing, narrow white
banding in tail.



No checker board on BW.

One last note is that this immature has what is called "headlights," traditionally noted on Red-tailed Hawks.  It's the notable white patch on the forewing near the elbow.  Not great for ID on a small bird coming directly at you, I guess, but often very visible on the RT which is much larger.


The one picture that is missing in my stash at this point is one of the dark band that appears as if drawn around the entire wing of a BW.  What makes it more visible in comparison to the Red-SH for instance, is the lightness of the underwing.  Even on a much darker adult, however, the dark outline can sometimes be diagnostic when looking up at a BW in flight, when in doubt.


So we have discussed why this is an immature bird.  Primarily the light eyes and wing window are prime indicators. Lighter coloring, and the intense redness also are indicators. But would you need to count it as an immature? We usually don't make such differences notable, except in Bald Eagles, or Harriers for instance, when M/F differences are notable. But when ID takes a bit more investigation, knowing the difference can make our counts more accurate.  We miss a few, but learn every time we are confronted with the need to know.


Don't become overwhelmed.  Knowing less when you first begin to learn is much better than knowing more.  We often use the same 3 Indentifiers with BWs - paring knife wing, wide white tail band, Flashes in wing and rump when banking in the familiar figure 8. 

There is more to know about distant birds, but I've said enough for now. We WELCOME your questions.  Though we hear them again and again from each new visitor to the watch. And from many who may be skeptical that we really can tell what we see so far out.  But perhaps as we discuss the shapes, and features of the birds being released, you can see the things we look for too.

Migration is still on, soooo

Keep Looking UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!


*I dislike the general use of Comma to reference the "window" feature of transluscence, because in the Red-tailed and in the Broad-wing there appears an actual comma shaped feature on the underside of their forewings.  It looks like a comma drawn on the wing.  I think it is very confusing, but Jimmy and Harold who refer to the books as their example, prefer the word. Comma when sharing the window feature.  Jimmy often corrects me when I say window.  But there are notes in several references materials which also say "window".  And I am not sure why the difference isn't as confusing to other writers. I believe it must be due to what people have become most familiar.  So either term is correct,  if you know the difference.  But if I say "comma", in reference to a Red-Tailed Hawk, please know I actually mean a comma shaped mark on the bird.

Pucara, Rehab/Release Broad-winged Hawk

Pucara was released from rehab, where he/she has been recovering from a broken leg,  Thursday 10/2/14, about 2:30pm.

 We arrived to Alix Parks' home facility early, where she demonstrated the readiness of the this bird to be released.  Strength in the leg and grip, healthy eater - 2 mice on this day alone, feisty aggressive attempts to fly,  the ability to fly to heights, and remain perched....all part of the many things Alix checks before release.  One slightly bent feather, was not enough to endanger the bird, nor the well worn feathers, showing that this bird needs to move, so that molt can occur in the near future.  After a migration, it will return with bright new feathers in the fall, but if not released, it might be forced to remain state-side for the winter.  It needed to be released into the migration, even if a bit late.

Alex was as anxious as was the bird, to get it going, hoping to see it join others kettling above Signal Point, where it would be released.  That had happened once before.  But it wasn't to be, on Thursday afternoon.  For we saw no BW's in the nearby skies.  But not to fear, it wasn't necessary.  Broad-wings, which love to join a migratory group kettling into a rising thermal, are generally loners, and will fly one by one as well.  All Pucara needs is the yearning that draws migrating birds around the globe, to go to warmer climates as winter approaches.  That amazing yearning, so fascinating, and barely understood.

As Jimmy and I entered the large enclosure that provides protection and containment, while allowing for ample flight to assure the continued health or healing thereof, for injured raptors, I was impressed.  Alix had provided anything a healing bird could need. I searched the high spots, desiring to see this bird that I recognized from the heights of a blue sky, curious to see it up close and personal.  Would I recognize it?

I spotted it through the branches of a small tree, and the illusion while it sat up high was of a larger bird than when it is actually in hand. I was actually surprised to see it's body up close.  Those enormous wings in comparison to it's body confirmed how well it's named.
Alix points to the Crop of this bird, which is protruding because it is full. It devoured 2 mice after all, earlier. (also known as Croup, or Craw, and I 've also heard it pronounced, Crawp)

 

In the picture above two things are visible that we expect to see on a Broad-winged Hawk.



1. There is a silvery-ness on the outer under-wing.  In the air, as this bird banks in flight, sunlight that catches that area of the wing creates a silver flash.  This is extremely helpful, when we are looking at miniscule kettles far away or high in the sky. It is possible to know we are seeing Broad-wings rather than Vultures, for instance, by that flash.  In our area, generally, only Vultures occur in enough numbers to make a kettle of any size, although I once saw a small kettle of Eagles. (Hope that we see more of those.)  In a mixed kettle, the size often becomes obvious as we watch the birds bank and turn. But without the benefit of larger birds in the kettle, we must make a decision on distant birds based on more than perceived size. The flashes of silver will look a bit like glitter, especially in a haze. But it brings confidence in our calls, when we are counting vanishing specks.
2. In the same vein, there is a white under-rump on this bird, that is our second element, which helps ID these birds in a mix.  Buteos can sometimes display very similar silhouettes. It can take a bit of watching the birds as they approach, and even after years of counting, all of us, ALL OF US, go back and forth on what we are seeing sometimes.  But more than once, we have used the "white flash" that occurs as Broad-wings bank and flip in flight, to determine if we are seeing Broad-wings or Red-shouldered hawks, for example.

It needs to be noted that this isn't the same as the long white rump patch that occurs both above and below on many raptors - Red-Tails, Harriers, and both Accipiters, can have distinct rump to tail white patches or bands.  On the Broad-wing, it usually must show its underside to notice the white rump flash, as it rolls and flips, flying in a pattern similar to a figure 8.

So - White flash at rump, and silver flash on the outer underwing. Sometimes you can see only one or the other, depending on the light and sun angle, but sometimes you can clearly see both. 



Broad-winged Hawk above
Red-shouldered Hawk below

The effect of these flashes in a murky sky, is that the birds are visible one minute and not the next instant. We call that "blinking" in and out.  Sometimes the blinking is more due to the depth of the bird into the murk, (the haze, clouds, or fuzzy seeds filling the air,) which is disguising the kettle. But I have actually seen kettles in blue sky out of which I was counting the birds by the flashes. Must be careful to not over count in these situations.  But rather than lose the birds to a "blink out," where the entire kettle can disappear, I would rather make a good estimate on how many I can count, by their flashes.



Compare in the pictures here, the Broad-wing above, with the silver flash out near the tip of the very pointed, "paring knife shaped wing, to the much rounder wing with a transparent "window" or "comma" on the outer wing of a Red-shouldered hawk, below. Both have intense banding in the tail, but the bold bands on the short wide tail of the Broad-wing, make it seem  more obvious, or more singular. As if it has only one wide white band. Notice the white on the under rump. Both have reddish, (considered "chocolate" on the BW) heads sometimes, and in fact, a Broad-wing can have the transparent windows in the wing, if it is an immature bird.  Some of these things we will discuss further in our next blog.




Consider this Part I on the identification of Broad-winged Hawks, and keep coming back for more as we discuss how we know this bird's age in Part II.

And always ----
Keep Looking UP!!!!http://soddymountainhawkwatch.blogspot.com/p/rehabrelease.html

Releasing Rehabbed Broad-wing

Alix Parks invites us to join she and Sherry Teas to release the Broad-winged Hawk they have been rehabbing over the last few weeks.  She is so excited to see it released during migration. 

Due to weather, on Friday, Alix had to move the release of the Broad-wing up to 2:00 today.  Sorry, if some have made plans.  He must be released because he is ready to fly, and it has become imperative to let him go. The place is Signal Point, on Signal Mtn., TN.

Stay tuned for pictures!
   &
Keep Looking UP!!!

This Was Our Last Scheduled Day

Our last Scheduled definite day to man the watch was today, the last day of September.  We had hoped that the little bit of rain might have caused a last push of Broadies, but they didn't come over our site.

Yesterday, Jimmy eventually went up when the skies cleared and spent about 5 hours there in the afternoon.  His totals were:

6 Broad-Wings
1 Sharp-Shinned
1 Coopers Hawk


Harold Birch went up this morning and this is his report:

"I went up for a while today.  Got there at 10:00.  Fog in valley but blue sky on mountain.  For a while fog reduced and started getting nice clouds.  Around 1200 the fog created a cloud that moved  up and above me.  Covered entire valley but not to the west.  Sometime between 12:30 & 12:45 with foggy clouds overhead, I was looking straight up, resting my head on the chair, hoping to see a hawk fly through my view.  The next thing I knew it was 1:15 and no more foggy clouds.  Had to leave at 2:00.

10:00 64 deg, 96%, calm, 30.00  10% cloud 5K

11:00 70 deg, 81, calm, 29.99, 20%, 8K

12:00 74 deg, 71%, N3, 29.98, 75%, 8K

1:00   79 deg, 60%, N3, 29.96, 25%, 20K

SS at 1123  (south west)
Peregrine 1133, (South)  over head and close enough to see black face markings
BW 1:35 (SW)
BW (4) 1:53  (S)

 Monarchs 10

Cloudless 8

Harold Birch
Soddy Daisy, TN"

***************************************

Jimmy then went up from 3- 5:15 pm, and his numbers were:

1 Broad-wing

No other countables.
___________________________________________________
Combined totals for today were 6.25 hrs,  6 BWs, 1 SS,  & 1 Peregrine Falcon.


Thank you Harold for covering the early hours!!!

***************************************


Our next report will be a YTD.  All other reports for the season will be sporadic as we receive them, or have a chance to go up ourselves.  We express once more our gratefulness for all the extra eyes during the many hours spent there this year.  We feel that the watch was manned for about as many hours as possible for an entire 3 week period.  As many Raptors as could be seen, were gleaned from those days.  It answers for us, how many might be missed by not being on days we expect to not see many. And that answer is: not many.  Single digits for the most part.  Only one day really produced hawks when we didn't expect them.  But several days that we did expect them, left us deflated.  But the hours were covered, and the weather being what it was...hid from us the high flying birds in blue skies or over low clouds.  And as Jimmy says: " We count what we can!"  And that's all we can do.

The blog had 547 page-views this month, with a total of 3,327 views overall.  So excited to be getting the information out for all to see.  The daily records do seem to link us all to what we love. So glad to be sharing with so many great friends!!


Blessings to all.  Be sure to look back a time or two this year, as we expect there to be a few more reports. Before we give a grand Season Total.

We heard good news today from Alix Parks.  The injured Broad-wing is recovering well, and will be releasable  into the migration after all.  Not sure yet if they will carry it to Alabama or release it closer to home.  But we rejoice that it is  doing well. 

Corpus Christi, TX counted over 50,000 Broadies yesterday, but through a dense haze of particles in the sky.  Boy haven't we seen our share of that this year.  Can't imagine having 50,000 blinking hawks. WOW.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=582411212207&set=gm.10152655648180935&type=1

Blessings to all.

The Accipiter, Falcon, and Red-tailed numbers are on the rise at watches North of us.  SOooo, as we always say:

Keep Looking Up!!!!

Update and Totals

Today we ran by the watch for a couple of hours before it closed completely in.  Once when the clouds broke for a bit, we saw 6 Broadies rise from behind the house. It actually appeared that they lifted off from the trees in the distance, rather than flying low and getting lift.  They were relatively close.  We've been joking with one another, between the team, that we had to think harder about the close hawks than the distant ones.  And it's true.  LOL

Today's total - 9 BW's, 2 RT, and 1 SS.

Here's the week's summery and the YTD:

Jimmy's e-mail to TN-bird:

"Hawks seen this week include: 675 Broad-winged Hawks; 1 MISSISSIPPI KITE (juvenile);
10 Sharp-shinned Hawks; 7 Cooper's Hawks; 5 Osprey; 1 Merlin; 1 American Kestrel;
1 Northern Harrier; 3 Red-tailed Hawks; 3 Red-shouldered Hawks; and 3 Bald Eagles
(1 adult/2 immature)for a total of 710 Raptors.

Next week we will be on the lookout sporadically. This past Saturday and Sunday were both 98% cloudy days. Monday 9/29 looks iffy due to predicted rain.  If rain does close us down on
Monday then I suspect Tuesday and/or Wednesday will be our last 2 good days of
significant Broad-winged Hawk numbers.  It's so late in September, quite possibly the
big numbers have already passed us by, this season.  We can always be optimistic though,
you just never know, it's kind'a like Forest Gump's Momma's box of chocolates...

Year-To-Date seen:
2846 Broad-winged Hawks
   1 Mississippi Kite
  24 Sharp-shinned Hawks
  16 Cooper's Hawks
   6 Osprey
   1 Merlin
   2 American Kestrel
   2 Peregrine Falcons
   2 Northern Harriers
   5 Red-tailed Hawks
   7 Red-shouldered Hawks
  15 Bald Eagles  (8 adult/7 immature)
   1 unidentified Buteo
------
2928 Total

also seen but not countable were 1 + 8= 9 Double Crested Cormorants
4+33+148+112= 297 migrating Monarch Butterflies

Keep Looking Up!
Jimmy & Cynthia Wilkerson
http://soddymountainhawkwatch.blogspot.com"