First Report of the Fall Season

Our first report of the 2015 Fall season comes from Bill Haley.  As the originator of the site, we always are proud to hear from Bill, especially when he has a bit of time to spend up there. 

 

His report is followed by a great discussion about how we may consider what it is we have seen when it doesn't match the "regulars."  It includes some wonderful info on specific things about each species that help you know we are analyzing what we see, making mental notes about wing shape, tail length, and various other identifying features - to rule out birds, sometimes as a means of making an ID.

 

He also includes the Weather info, the way the guys have always recorded it. Usually,they reference a weather radio, but in the present days of easy phone access, the info may be available there as well.  Thank you, Bill. Some of our reporters may not provide us with info this detailed, and we will appreciate just knowing what you saw.  But, perhaps our friends who watch hawks with us, will recall that we have told them to watch the weather to know when to expect good flight numbers. It's because of data like below.

 

Finally, let me say, that this report comes from the "Man, Himself," who taught us all to ID our hawks.  There are always days we may not get the close look we would like, or know what we are seeing immediately, without some discussion or consideration. Even Bill can't make a strong ID every time.

 

So, when you see any bird and can't know what you are seeing, positively, within the few minutes you are seeing it, take mental notes and make mental comparisons. Just as Bill discusses below. As Bill, made his observations known, a clear picture of his bird came to mind, My thought was, "He had a western bird...He's right"  I was willing to agree with his conclusion immediately.  Because, there is really only one bird that has that dihedral and resembles the color of the Red-shouldered...and is a western bird, etc. Having seen them before,  I could envision the Hawk of his conclusion.  Perhaps, you will too, or you will make a mental note of it.

Enjoy the Read!

Turkey Vulture
 Bill Haley

 

Bill's Report

 

"First day of fall 2015 at the Soddy Mountain hawk lookout was Saturday, Sept. 5. I took up some clippers to cut some of the taller weeds, but was pleasantly surprised when I arrived to find a newly-mown lookout. Thanks Harold! It looks good.

 (All times Eastern): Arrived 9:00, left 12:15. Came back at 1:15, left at 2:30. Total 4.75 hours.

 

Weather: Visibility 5K (very hazy over the valley – typical Sept. conditions). It never improved all day.

9:00: wind ENE 1-3, Clear, temp. 73 F, hum. 84%, baro. 30.14 and rising

10:00: temp. 78 F, hum. 73%, baro. 30.14

11:00: wind ENE 1-5, clouds 2%, temp. 80 F, hum. 62%, baro. 30.15

12:00: clouds 10%, temp. 84 F, hum. 56%, baro. 30.15

1:.00: clouds 20%, wind ESE 2-5, temp. 86 F, hum. 51%, baro. 30.14

2:00: clouds 15%, temp. 88 F, hum. 48%, baro. 30.12

 

Hawkwatch 2015, first day, looking NE, 9-5-15
Bill Haley
 

Saturday, Sept. 5 was National Vulture Appreciation Day, so it was fitting when shortly after I arrived an immature Turkey Vulture circled very low around the lookout. Nice way to begin the season, and I certainly enjoyed seeing and photographing this beautiful young vulture. I have attached several photos I took of the Turkey Vultures around the lookout. Some of my vulture photos turned out well enough that I’m hopeful of getting some good hawk shots this fall. I hope you all had a Happy Vulture Appreciation Day!

 

Hawks:

Broad-winged Hawk (1) 11:22 SW

Unidentified Buteo (1) 11:38 S  *(mystery bird of the day, see discussion below.)

 

Local Red-tailed Hawks – not countable: (1) ad. 10:35, missing flight feather; (1) ad. 10:55 all feathers accounted for; (1) ad. 12:00, one missing tail feather, (1) imm. 1:32 all feathers present.

TV
Bill Haley

Dihedral
Bill Haley
 

 

 Migrant butterflies: Monarch 2, Cloudless Sulphur 16

 

*Unidentified Buteo “mystery hawk”: Seen well over valley at fairly high altitude, no color or plumage field marks discernible. When first seen, it was already even with the lookout and headed south, so it was unfortunately going away from me. It appeared to be buteo-sized, and the wings looked like buteo wings but the tail appeared longish for a BW, RT or RS. Its wings were held in a very distinct dihedral, and it occasionally flapped its wings. I watched it for 2-3 minutes as it slowly glided on south, soaring and circling as it went.

 

I’ll start with a list of species I’m pretty sure it was NOT: Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Osprey, (too small for the first three, wings and body shape not right), Red-tailed Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk (dihedral too strong, tail not right), no accipiter (too big and bulky), no falcon (wings not pointed), no TV or BV. Following is my process of elimination:

 

• 1). Northern Harrier: My first thought was Northern Harrier, based on the dihedral and wing flaps, however I’m pretty good at ID’ing a N. Harrier from a good distance. The wings were not long enough and the tail was too short. I ruled out N. Harrier.
• 2). Mississippi Kite: The flight characteristics somewhat reminded me of a Mississippi Kite, but the build was wrong – the wings were broader - not slender enough, and it looked too bulky for a kite. I’ve seen a good number of Mississippi Kites in flight in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Missouri, so I feel certain it wasn’t a kite.
• 3).Red-shouldered Hawk: Usually when we see a buteo that flaps its wings as it soars, it turns out to be a Red-shouldered Hawk. However, I’ve never seen a RS hold its wings in such a dihedral and the tail (when compared with the wings) also looked longer and more slim than a RS tail. I realize this is probably the most plausible choice, but I just didn’t get the feeling it was a Red-shouldered.

So what could it have been?

• 4). Swainson’s Hawk: Hmmm. It is an intriguing possibility and I really wish I could have seen the bird closer. Swainson’s Hawks hold their wings in a dihedral, are just a bit slighter-built and smaller than a RT and they migrate in September. Wings, body and tail shapes match up fairly well with my bird. Unfortunately, I have not seen enough Swainson’s Hawks flying to know if the wing-flapping is something they might do. That might completely rule them out. Granted they are usually a mid-western species and not commonly found this far east, but they do occur in the fall at Hawk Mountain, PA and even Cape May, NJ and a few overwinter in Florida. I saw one on Soddy Mountain during spring migration a number of years ago, but it was much closer and flying with a Red-tail for a size comparison. I could see field marks such as the darker flight feathers, longer-appearing tail and slighter build than the Red-tail. While watching this bird on Saturday, it sure made me wonder if it could possibly be a Swainson’s Hawk. However, not seeing it more closely, and due to my lack of observations of this species, I’m not prepared to make that call and it will simply go down as an unidentified buteo.

Oh well, if hawk identification was too easy then everyone could do it. Welcome to Soddy Mountain hawkwatch 2015!

 Reporting: Bill Haley"

 

Thanks again, Bill!

 

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

 

Cynthia and Jimmy Wilkerson