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"