11 Broad-wings
2 Sharp-Shins
1 Immature Bald Eagle
1 Immature Red-shouldered Hawk
7 hours on site
Harold Birch, Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson, and Clay Seneker
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Friday, 9/11/2015
11 Broad-wings
2 Ospreys
2 Coopers Hawks
8 hours on site.
Bill Haley, Harold Birch, Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson, with Ryder Flaherty - visitor.
Highlights for non raptor species were several Red-headed Woodpeckers, 3 Vireo Species, and a Tanager species. Sorry not to be specific, but he book's in the car, and Jimmy just made notes on the raptors for me to post.
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(Note: Jimmy hates when I do a two or three day post and I put today's numbers on the top and go back in time from there. Please always ck for the older data under the newest data, and I hope it doesn't seem backwards to you too. )
Clay Seneker said he spent an additional 2 hours on the watch, alone, in the middle of the week, but nothing but locals to report. That in itself is also a report, and one we value.
As an FYI, we are installing a rudimentary potty, for those who might not come because there are no facilities. I am getting too old to ruff it the way we used to, myself. I have lots of cleaning supplies to keep it sanitary as well. And also a wash for the Poison Ivy. Hope to put some mulch down the path as well as time goes by. Super simple, but I wish we always had it.
In addition, for those who don't know yet, we have a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Soddy-Mountain-Hawk-Watch-1608121316117914/timeline/
Please like the page and post comments and reports from where you are as well. Love those Raptor pics, from where ever you are. We might be able to post some "up to the minute reports" on good days.
Finally, I wanted to tell you a little about yesterday and today.
Bill arrived early, 8:30 am, I believe, and therefore was able to rack up a nice number of migrant and local bird species other than the Raptors. We recommend the place for a good morning of birding, most times of the year, but especially in Spring and Fall migrations.
The winds grew in intensity, mostly out of the N to NW today and yesterday, but at one point, ground winds were blowing anything, not tied down, away. Gusting perhaps to 30 midday to mid afternoon. The nice coverage of clouds broke up and our views of hawks dwindled to nothing by 3. But before there were no hawks to see, the winds carried along what we saw as if it were riding a freight train. They were almost all in a tuck, riding the river of wind without flapping a wing, or catching a single thermal. They didn't struggle or straggle. They simply went in a straight line as quickly as the wind would carry them. And it was indeed quickly. They moved from the Northern skies into the Southern Skies more quickly than we could get other viewers on them once or twice. And yet, they weren't difficult to differentiate. The light was good, and the air was clear all the way to past Kingston Steam Plant and the mountains in the distance beyond. No haze until when, late in the day, the wind had raised some dust to our North. So we were able to determine that the Bald Eagle was an immature before it came near, and saw stripes on the tails of those having stripes.
As we were coming off the mountain around 5pm, I saw a hawk attempting to land in the trees on the left side of the road, but it abandoned that landing and crossed the road in front of our car, then had a fairly rough landing in the trees on the right side of the road. As we passed it, I could see the solid dark outline around it's open wings, which gave me a quick way to ID it as a Broad-wing. I remarked to Jimmy that it was a Broad-wing, and really looked tired, by it's struggle when landing.
Just a few moments later, I noticed, over the valley from Hwy 27 S., another Broad-wing Hawk circling around low over trees, as if looking for food, or a place to land. "No wonder we weren't seeing hawks in the skies by the time we left, they were all making it a day, and either seeking food or rest. Wonder if there will be a lift-off around the area in the morning?"
In spite of the strong possibility, Jimmy and I cannot be there early. So if you do get there early, check the tree tops closely, and don't start out looking too high for your hawks. Especially, look over the valley and along the ridge across the highway between 9:30 and 11. One thing I perceived to be possibly true from all this was, those winds may carry them along without a flap of a wing, at high speeds, but it probably works them over as well. I never saw a Hawk struggle so to fly across the road! It looked like me at the end of the day. Ha...or most anytime of day, the older I get. But, it is a joy to see these birds on the move.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
And Keep Looking UP!!!!
Jimmy and Cynthia
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