Last Day for Our Broad-wing Invitation

                                                                       BH

As I said in our last blog, we watch a determined number of days and ask you to join us, and Sunday was our last day of that event.  Jimmy sent stats and YTD info to TN-bird, so I will just put up his report.  When other days are available to have visitors during the upcoming Accipiter and Buteo/Vulture watches, during October and November, we will try to let people know.  It will most likely be single days, and short notice. So continue to follow the blog or the Facebook page for dates and times.  For the most part these will depend on when Bill Haley knows in advance he can spend some time there.  He continues to enjoy company. LOL
 

Here's Jimmy's final report:

 

"SMHW
Hamilton Co., TN

Today we unofficially declared as the last day for Broad-winged Hawk migration
for 2016.  There will still possibly be more reported in the next few days but
we don't expect more than single digit numbers.

Today we counted 5 Broad-winged stragglers.  We also had 1 Osprey; 1 Northern
Harrier; 8 Sharp-shinned Hawks and 1 Red-tailed Hawk.  The Red-tail was probably
one of the darkest Red-tails I have ever seen.  On the spot we ruled out Harlan's.
After coming home and looking at other references, it could have been a Harlan's
however, I think it may have been a form of Western Red-tail.  Who knows?

Sunday, October 2, 2016
BW 5
OS  1
NH 1
SS 8
RT 1
____________________
Total Raptors: 16

Counters were Bill Haley and Jimmy & Cynthia Wilkerson.

Soddy Mountain year-to-date totals are:

  13 Osprey
  18 Bald Eagles, (11 adults/7 immature)
   9 Northern Harrier
  46 Sharp-shinned Hawks
   6 Cooper's Hawks
   3 Red-shouldered Hawks
1408 Broad-winged Hawks  (**one dark morph seen Sept. 27**)
   2 Red-tailed Hawks  (*Western?*)
  16 American Kestrel
   2 Merlin
   6 Peregrine Falcon

1529 Total
  11 species seen
  21 days coverage
 151.75 hours on the watch

It's still not to late to KEEP LOOKING UP!....

more sharpies and Cooper's still to come through in October then there's Red-tails
and Turkey Vultures migrating in November.  Bill Haley will count most of those.
Watch Cynthia's blogspot for future numbers he reports for the other half of hawk
watching Part 2 season 2016.

http://soddymountainhawkwatch.blogspot.com

Jimmy Wilkerson
Hixson, Hamilton co., TN"
********************************

Bill Haley adding in data.

Bill Haley sent us this e-mail, which he hoped we would also post to the blog. From this point, reports will mostly be from him:
 

"After spending the past 2 plus weeks on Soddy Mountain hawk lookout every day, often from 10:00 till 5:30 or 6:00pm, to monitor the Broad - winged Hawk migration, "ironman" and "ironwoman" hawk-watchers Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson spent their last full day today and are due for a well-deserved rest. They called it a season at 4:30 - their last stint on the lookout. Thus ends the first part of the hawk migration season.
 

For anyone who has visited the lookout this year and spent even 2 or 3 hours in sunny  90 degree weather, I think you will agree their dedication has been extraordinary. I am proud to have gotten to spend a number of days with them this year and wish to thank them for their efforts.
 

It was like old times where I first introduced them to the wonderful world of hawk watching 24 years ago. What great things we've witnessed and fun times we've had over the years.
 

The second part of the migration has always been my favorite. Bye-bye to the Broadies - 99 percent are now past us. Time for late season migrants, lower numbers but interesting diversity. I'll be up there when I can. Stay tuned.
 

I don't mean it to sound like their hawk watching days are done. I still expect them to visit me during October and November occasionally, and Lord willing, they will return next September for their beloved Broad - wings.
 

A few hawks today on a mostly cloudy, but very pleasant afternoon. I joined Jimmy and Cynthia after church, and it was just us on the lookout. I stayed until 6:00. A light north wind and almost complete cloud cover, with barometric pressure of 30.05, promised only a very slight chance of additional hawks and I didn't see a single one after they left.
 

However, there were other migrants to see. I was pleasantly surprised to witness a late afternoon Monarch butterfly push. In the first 4 hours I'd counted 20 passing the lookout. In the last hour and a half another 26 came past, sailing along to put in another mile or two for the day. The 46 was the top number of Monarchs this fall.
 

Also had wonderful looks at a Tennessee Warbler in the dead pine on front of where we sit. Beautiful yellow-green on the back and nice light A yellow breast. (Seen 2 minutes after Jimmy and Cynthia left.) It was a good addition to the male Pine Warbler seen in one of the small pines only 10' from us. Cynthia got some great photos of it and will hopefully share one or two.

Pine Warbler flying away...a bit foreshadowing of what we were about to do. LOL - C. 

WCA

 

I even saw the Thread - waisted Wasp again...but that is whole other story.
 

Even if you don't see hawks, there is always SOMETHING to see at Soddy Mountain!

I enjoyed a visit by Bryant and Claire Haynes, who had been hiking on the Cumberland Trail and we're interested in seeing where Jones Gap Road terminates. They didn't expect to find me, but seemed very interested in what we do. I invited them to bring binoculars,  chairs, drinks, snacks and to come back up and join me sometime.

 

More to come from hawk season,  part two.

Bill Haley"
 

 ************************

There are 2 more months that we can-

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!