Never a Dull Day

Bill and Jim Rowell had a full day, staying busy even when the hawks were not flying:

Jim Rowell with female praying mantis.

October 14, 2016

Jim Rowell and I covered the lookout from 8:30-3:30 today. He arrived about an hour after me, but he missed no hawks. The day began with 30% clouds, barometer reading of 30.25, a light NE wind and a temperature of 63 F. By the end of the day we had 90-95% cloud cover, barometer of 30.18, south winds 5-10, and 79 F.

The hawk migration doldrums continued. Our first Sharp- sinned Hawk came through at 10:58. We had to wait until 1:32 to count our next migrant, a Red-tail which was in a glide south when I sighted it in the distance over the north ridge. It continued south, sailing high all the way past the lookout.

An American Kestrel came past 5 minutes later, and 25 minutes later another Sharpie. Last bird of the day was another Red-tail at 3:08.

Final hawk total:

2 Sharp - shins

1 Am. Kestrel

2 Red-tail

Other sightings: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1st of the fall), 22 migrant Blue Jays, 10 Eastern Bluebirds on the wires - that number will increase as it gets colder. Potter Wasp carrying an inch worm caterpillar (turns out they also provision with caterpillars,  like the Thread - waisted Wasp), but they construct neat little pottery jugs instead of digging holes.

Only one Monarch today and 12 Cloudless Sulphur. Butterfly list: Cabbage White, Little Yellow, Clouded sulphur,  Orange Sulphur, Sleepy Orange, Cloudless Sulphur, Pearl Crescent,  Eastern Comma, (new lookout species!), Gulf Fritillary (also found 3 chrysalids), Common Buckeye (one Buckeye chrysalis), Monarch, Wild Indigo Duskywing,  Common Checkered Skipper (got some nice photos), Clouded Skipper,  Fiery Skipper,  Sachem.

I've attached a picture of Jim the Mantis Man for your enjoyment. I found this female Chinese Mantis for him to play with. She was released to lay eggs and make more mantises for next year. Both Jim and I like insects - you can't limit yourself to hawks alone! 

Will also send a couple other shots from today.

I'll be back in the morning. A slight chance of rain overnight and maybe a bit cooler tomorrow. Hopefully hawk numbers will improve too!

Reporting: Bill Haley

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Thanks Bill and Jim.  Appreciate the info.  Can't wait til the days totals pick up. It's transition time.

And still time to

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!