Migration's Not Over

Bill had a chance to get up to the Hawk watch just before the Holiday began and sent us this report:


November 23,

- the day before Thanksgiving, and some might think the fall migration is about over. I'm not one of them.

This fall migration has been one of the most unusual yet, and I am beginning to believe that it may stretch out longer than usual. Our extended "summer" has finally come to an end and the hawks and eagles all of a sudden have reasons to come south. Another cold front (and we hope maybe a little rain) will come through tonight. We might still have a chance at a good late season movement of raptors, and it could possibly extend into December.  

I had a chance to hawk watch this afternoon, and I arrived at 1:30. The wind was strong from the south 5-15 MPH,  45% clouds, visibility of 35K,  barometric pressure was 30.17 and the temperature was 64F. By 3:00 the wind was occasionally gusting to over 20 mph, temperature was 67 and the pressure had dropped to 30.13.

At 1:52 a female Northern Harrier came sailing south. I have an inordinate fondness for Northern Harriers and I thought if it was the only migrant I saw it was well worth the trip today. It was the first one I'd seen since October 15! Maybe it would be a good omen?

I've been wondering lately where all the eagles have been. The last Bald Eagle I counted was on October 22 - over a month ago. They showed up today! An adult Bald Eagle glided overhead at 2:06, It was followed six minutes later by an immature. At 2:26 another immature BE, this one with a lot of white on the underwings,  belly, and even on the upper side of the body passed overhead very close. On it's approach it actually dropped below the level of the wires as it crossed over Jones Gap and Hwy. 111, luckily gaining enough altitude to easily clear the wires before sailing past the lookout.

Three Red-tails were counted and several groups of Black Vultures, seemingly in a hurry to get south, finished out the day. I left at 4:00.

The migration is definitely not over. In fact, it might just be starting to get interesting!

Today's totals:

Black Vulture - 20

Bald Eagle 3 (1 ad., 2 imm. )

Northern Harrier - 1

Red-tail - 3

Reporting: Bill Haley

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Now that you know, that it's not too late, take every opportunity you have to glance toward the skies, and remember it's never too late to

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

Thanksgiving Coming Up -- Bill's Weekend Posts

Nov. 17, 2016 report:

Arrived 8:30. Noted on the way up that the smoke wasn't bad at Montlake and that gave me some hope firefighters have finally gotten the upper hand.  However, I grew pessimistic as I approached Soddy Lake.  Now the blazes are in Big Soddy Creek gulf, less than a mile below the lookout. Crossing the causeway over the lake I could barely see the lake for the smoke!  It looked more clear on the lookout but the smoke was approaching. Temperature was 41 and pressure was 30.15. Visibility was 15K. 

Here are some of my notes: 9:00 - Smoke slowly creeping up valley towards me. Visibility 10K. Can't see Soddy Lake or Soddy Lake or Sequoyah N.P. Watts Bar is visible but fading.10:00: Can't see Watts Bar anymore, but I can see steam plume barely above smoke layer. Visibility 8K. 12:00 smoke much worse! Visibility 2K. Not sure how much longer I want to breathe this smoke. Left 12:30.

Total:

American Kestrel - 1

Red-tail - 1

Bill Haley

 

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Friday, Nov. 18 report:

Didn't arrive until 1:30. Visibility 8K - the best of the week and nice after the last couple of trips with extremely poor visibility, sometimes less than 1K. It was clear, temperature 72,  barometer 30.12 and wind from the south 5-10 MPH. I could only stay until 3:00, when it was nice short-sleeved weather of 77F - crazy this time in November! 

I only counted one migrant, an adult Red-tail. As it approached in a glide I kept thinking there was something unusual about the coloration under the throat. As it got closer I realized it had a really full crop. It looked like a goiter the size of a baseball! That bird must have had a squirrel or rabbit for lunch!

Total: Red-tail - 1

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Sunday, November 20 report:

After a small rain yesterday morning and the passage of our strongest cold front yet, this was a day of contrasts compared with Friday. Arrived after church at 12:15. Clear, temperature 47, wind NW 5-15 MPH, visibility 75K,  barometer 30.30.

After a t-shirt on Friday,  I had to bundle up today with long-sleeved shirt, hoodie and then a windbreaker over that, thick gloves, hood up on my head and a scarf tied under my neck and over my head to protect my ears. It was still cold, but bearable.

The weather up north has finally gotten worse, with snow in some areas, and I am hoping it will bring some birds south. I may try to get up there for a couple of hours tomorrow too, when lighter northerly winds are predicted.

This is the kind of day when I think Golden Eagle is a possibility, but it wasn't to be today.

Counted one migrant adult Red-shouldered Hawk which lazily spiraled south at 12:52. Another one, also a beautiful adult, came through at 1:21. We always get some of them late in the season. 

Some vultures were also on the move. Counted a group of 8 TV's all moving south together at 1:02. At 2:35 I spotted a tight kettle of 18 Black Vultures, which were also counted.

The only other sighting of note was a flyover by the local Cooper's Hawk (going the wrong way), but only around 20 feet directly over my head. It wove into the woods just past the pole. I saw it a couple of times after that, obviously hunting for a birdy snack.

I left at 3:30. Temperature had increased to a "balmy" 54F and the barometer reading was 30.23.

Totals:

Red-shoulder - 2

Turkey Vulture - 8

Black Vulture 18

Reporting: Bill Haley

 

 

Thanks, Bill!

 

There continues to be some smoke, but I noticed that the wind seems to be picking up ash as well and getting it into the air.  But thankfully the fires are beginning to be contained.   Hawk watch is winding down, but it will be great to get our yearly totals caught up and put into the record. And so proud we have more data than just September's. 

 

As we passed the Hawk watch today coming back from Nashville, we were doing what we tell everyone to do...looking up. And two lovely Red-tails were circling just off the bluff. Can't count them, because we have no way of knowing if they moseyed on or not...but it simply pays to just--

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

 

 ps...As we mourn the loss of the children who passed away in the School Bus Wreck yesterday, I am reminded that our motto to Keep Looking Up is sometimes all we can do, in more than a literal way.  Today, I am looking up, in memory of those little souls, and also in prayer for the injured and their families too.  When there is nothing else to do...I am encouraged that there are lots of reasons to keep looking up. God Bless them and give them grace.

Smoke From Fires has Limited the View

Bill's reports for Sunday and Monday.  I missed Sunday's e-mail earlier, somehow. Jimmy said it showed up on his computer, but for some reason not on mine when I opened the emails.  So I am including them both here:

Nov. 13, 2016 report:

Arrived at the lookout at 10:45. Thanks to the smoke from nearby wildfires, the visibility was the worst of the fall - only about 2K. One fire is only about a mile south of the lookout, the larger fire is in the North Chickamauga Creek gorge 5 miles south. The whole Tennessee River Valley is filled with smoke. In downtown Chattanooga where I live, you couldn't see Lookout or Signal Mountains, so I knew it would be bad. I just didn't know how bad.

I was encouraged as I approached the lookout because the fires were to the south and it seemed more clear to the north. Not clear exactly - but more than it was further south. Uh, oh! Wind was from the southeast when I arrived, which meant the smoke would be coming my way. It was clear, but a "muddy" clear. Looking to the north ridge, I wasn't at all sure I would even be able to see an approaching hawk. The sky was a white blank until you got about the height of the pole top when you could finally make out some blue. Temperature was 54  and the pressure was high, 30.30.

I was thinking of two questions: 

1). Would a migrating hawk actually come into this smoke-filled area? 

2). Might Red-tails actually be attracted to areas of wildfires, drawn by the prospect of small mammal prey displaced by the blazes?

I hoped today might provide answers.

A Red-tail flew south at 11:12, and then another at 11:15. These were both fairly low, but I watched them go all the way south before counting them. I found that I had to scan high for any approaching hawks, as the smoke was getting worse by the minute and I don't think I could have seen more than 200 yards past the north ridge. This technique only worked for one RT that came through high at 11:30. I'd also counted a Cooper's Hawk at 11:22 that came in low over the ridge.

By 12:00 the smoke was much worse - I could barely see Fred and cell 1. Visibility was down to 1K. As the hour progressed I noted some groups of Black and Turkey Vultures going north - possibly looking for less smoky hunting territories. The north ridge was getting blurry and Fred was almost completely gone by 12:30. No more hawks were seen. I called it a day at 1:00 - the first time I've ever been smoked off the lookout.

Totals: Red-tail 3, Cooper's Hawk 1

At 12:50 I saw one Double-crested Cormorant fly south.

Reporting: Bill Haley

 

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Today is Monday, November 14, and the smoke in Chattanooga is terrible! I understand from folks all the way down in Ringgold and Lafayette, GA that it is bad there too.  I will be off work on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 17-18. Plans are to try to do some hawkwatching. This may be dependent on the amount of smoke from area wildfires. If visibility is significantly impaired it may not be worth the effort.  My fear is that if the fires continue to rage, we may have to write off the latter half of November this year, which would be a shame since it is one of my favorite parts of the migration season.

 

I hope everyone is praying for some rainfall. The last good soaking rain we got in this area was early June!  We are now over 18 inches below our average, which is a very sizeable amount. I think there is a slim 30% chance of rain this weekend. Get out and do a rain dance!

 

Bill Haley

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Thanks Bill,...I even worry a bit about where the fires might pop up next...would not like anyone getting back in there and becoming blocked by an unexpected fire.   Bill is so right...visibility was so bad today you couldn't even see the lake from the dam looking north, and couldn't see the next bridge looking south.  Plus the air  quality being so close to the fires isn't worth being up there.  Better safe...Praying for rain...

 

If it rains a good soaking rain, it might be worth the trip, if the fires have slowed the migration in anyway.  For now..it's wait and see.

 

Tonight...we will try to get a glimpse of the Super Moon.  Should be gorgeous about 3 am to 6am. If the smoke allows.  Just another reason to

 

Keep Looking UP!!!!

 

Stay safe all.. hope the fires don't' affect anyone in a bad way.

 

Jimmy and Cynthia

"VULTURES ON PARADE"

Who in the world gets excited about seeing dozens of Vultures streaming by?

Our second drama of the day, was the smoke from local fires. Many landmarks were not visible, and we wondered if we could see the migrants in the heavy reddish haze.

 Of course, those of you who know us, know it would be US.  One of our visitors turned up her nose when we even mentioned that it was Vulture counting time. She sees enough of them on her property.  LOL  Oh Well. There are advantages - one being that when you've had a lean year, and not too much has shown its wings on the ridge lately...even a few Vultures are encouraging.



A few of the birds that streamed out from the larger kettles
 coming in from our N.

 We tell people for the duration of Broad-winged season to never miss the opportunity to look into a kettle of Vultures for other migrants, (The Harold Birch Principle)  but during November....Well, never miss waiting out a kettle of Vultures to see which way it will go!!!  They are the most super teaching tool for something actually visible, which demonstrates the kettling and streaming activity of Raptors.  They simply look like BW's on steroids. LOL So what better day for them to show up, during migration than on FILM DAY!!!!  And THEY DID.

Just before I give you Bill's report, let me put in a plug for and a link to POPFIZZ PRODUCTIONS who found a place on their busy calendar to come gather film footage with their talented Host, singer/songwriter, Erick Baker.  Behind the cameras, in production and directing the shoot were Kristen Eubanks and Cody Walters.  Their final product is a PBS show,  TENNESSEE UNCHARTED.

What a privilege to have had them  on our watch, even though trying to incorporate 24 years of hawk-watching into a few takes of film was a bit challenging. Not for Bill whose info is as accurate and off the top of his head as always.  But for the crew, a bit of a lot to take in. We have to take you through all the basics. (Bill has done 1 hour/info packed programs at the Aquarium, to just get interested watchers grounded before coming to the watch in the past.) I felt as if, after giving them the whole bag, our crew were still questioning, "Why Hawk Watch?" Same thing has happened several times this year with new visitors.

That is, UNTIL the Raptors started streaming through.  Red-tail after Red-tail, and Vultures by the dozens.  And I was relieved when I heard the exclamations of, "WOW." That soft, long, drawn out "wwoooooowwww."  You know the one. When all that stuff we throw at you that dizzies your brain, and then you see that first kettle, or a raptor lays over in the wind within 40 feet of you at eye level...That "wwooooooow."  When we put all that "info" to use, getting you on the birds, helping you figure out for yourself what you are seeing, and those birding/hawk-watch terms fit your conversation exactly. That instant - the one you came for...to become a hawk-watcher. When you  have sorted out your first 4 ID's. Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, Red-tailed  and Red-shouldered Hawks.  Sprinkle  in a Sharpie or two, and you are there! Can you relate?  And it happened yesterday!  To a film crew.  They have been christened and officially tagged.  Hawk-watchers of the day. Be sure and click on the links, and find and watch their intriguing show! We will post later when our episode will air, as soon as they notify us. TENNESSEE UNCHARTED's Season III began the first week of November!

Now here's Bill's report:

Nov. 7, 2016 Report: Film Crew and TV's

We've been looking forward to a visit by a film crew from Knoxville, Popfizz Productions, and today was the day. Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson joined me on the lookout. It was a sunny day, but several wildfires in the area really cut down on the visibility out over the valley and we could see a layer of smoke all day. 

A little after 10:00 Eric, Kristy and Cody arrived with their film equipment. My biggest fear had been that the hawks wouldn't cooperate,  as we've had some pretty slow days of late. 

Good news is that Cody, the main cameraman, ended up getting some great footage. We saw Sharp-shins, several Red-tails, at least one Red-shouldered, Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures. 

And boy did we see Turkey Vultures! They were the stars of the morning. At 11:20 Cynthia spotted an armada of Turkey Vultures coming over the north ridge and piling up into kettles. They then came streaming down the valley - a truly awesome and inspiring sight! We had groups of 25, 17 and 64 come past from 11:25-11:27. Three minutes later another 68 came past. They were all caught on film as they passed in procession. Everyone on the lookout was impressed by the spectacle. We added a few more smaller groups later on for a final total of 215 Turkey Vultures for the day.

The film crew had departed and the action slowed in the afternoon but we still counted an occasional hawk or group of TV's. Jimmy and Cynthia called it a day at 3:15, and I stayed until 4:00. I was surprised to add 3 Red-tails and a Red-shoulder after they left. The last RT and RS came through extremely high. I thought I'd get to count a Cooper's Hawk, but it dove into the trees across from Ken's house. All in all it was a a very good day.

Final totals:

Black Vulture - 16

Turkey Vulture - 215

Sharp-shin - 2

American Kestrel - 1

Red - shouldered - 3

Red-tailed - 15

Total: 252 raptors counted

Also of note; we heard the first Hermit Thrushes of the year - at least two. Just before leaving I decided to walk up by the privet bush Jimmy broke the tops out of and tried to lure a Hermit out where I could see it. I began making a pishing noise. In a minute 2 Carolina Chickadees flew into the mostly bare sumac nearby. Then two Golden crowned Kinglets came in,  one flying into the privet very near me. They were followed by 2 Tufted Titmice and 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets. All the Ruby-crowned flew into the privet as I continued pishing, looking to see if there was an owl or snake. At times these little green beauties were perched on branches less than 5 feet from where I stood. Never did get a thrush to show itself, but it somehow seemed fitting to end a day that had been dominated by some of the largest birds by getting extremely close looks at some of the smallest.

Reporting: Bill Haley

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Morning western skies

Erick Baker is performing live in Chattanooga, Friday evening at The Camp House, on MLK Blvd. One of his many songs is one called, " STAY AWHILE."  I thought how appropriate that this is exactly what he and his crew do when filming the show..   Thanks, to all of you for an interesting day, and that you decided to come and "stay awhile" with us on the hill.

And Thank you Lord, for shewing a few raptors our way. LOL AMEN (spell ck doesn't know that southern term - "Shew")

Ck out Bill's schedule on the side bar, and maybe you can visit a few hours and watch kettles of November raptors chase their earlier counterparts into their southern destinations.

as always-

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!!

Fires rage about 5 miles south of us and fill the valley with smoke.

ps The second drama of the day was all about the fires burning to our South along the Ridge lines.  We had no knowledge at the time that 3 fires had expanded in the Gulch at the base of the hill off Hwy. 111.  Couldn't pull off to get pics of that, but I did stop for these pics of continuing blazes about 5 miles south.  This very hot, dry summer/fall has spurned fires in several states, along many ridges, and has a haze of smoke lying in valleys for miles in every direction.  It reminds me of news footage we have seen in California in the past.  I personally don't remember a time like this on the eastern flyway.  But I think it is necessary to note as a part of the ongoing documentation of the Story of Hawk-watching on Soddy Mtn.   1993 is known here as the year of the Blizzard. This, 2016, forever will be known for us as the Year of the Fires.

Thanks Erick, Kristin and Cody From POPFIZZ

Today's filming with the POPFIZZ CREW  was both exciting and fun.  There's so much to pour into explaining Hawk-watching, that there never seems as if there is enough time...but then the raptors show up...and it's easy as 1-2-3... Can't wait to let you know more about our wonderful day. We will be plugging this wonderful PBS show as much as possible for just hearing us out! LOL

Check out the links on our Facebook page :  or Soddy Mountain Hawk Watch in your Facebook search box.  More links from here when we post Bill's story for today! Jimmy and I were happy to support him today. And so appreciative to Erick, Kristin and Cody for spending time with us helping Tennesseans to know about the value of watching hawks.

Stay Tuned and

You know the line:

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

Film and Fire!

The fire on the ridge line south of the watch, may hamper what we are able to see today??? Depending on the winds I suppose.  The smoke is lying thick in the valley this morning.  Will it deter hawks moving south along the ridge?  This is something we luckily have never faced to any degree in the past. Although we have often viewed fires that sprung up in the valley,  we have never really experienced a day when the fire was so near.

But this will be data too.  What we discover today, one day before elections, and on our filming day, is how will the smoke effect where, or if the birdS will migrate today.  A bit cool this morning.  Dressing to suit the day.  Jimmy and I will join Bill for the morning at least.  Come on up if you can!

Today for sure, we will need to:

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

Picking Up Some Back Data

Jimmy found an opportunity to look back at Sunday, Oct 30th, when he helped Bill cover the watch, to get his data together so we could post it.  Here is his e-mail:

" I arrived at 9:30 to many calls (fhebee, fhebee) produced by an Eastern Phoebe.  It was the beginnings of what looked promising as another beautiful day for Fall hawk watching from the Soddy Mountain Lookout.  Although the leaf coloration was much past its prime; the temperature made up for any short comings.  Gone are the oppressing hot days of late September.  At 56 degrees F., there was a minimal chill to the air but still acceptable for the short sleeved shirt I was wearing.  The one thing lacking was a dampened greenness around my feet, primarily due to one hundred plus days of dry rainless weather.  The grass and other foliage has withered away to dry stubs, and the ground has become powdery particles blown around in swirls by the wind.

  The first hawk of the day was a chunky female Red-shouldered Hawk.  She flew in fairly close to the lookout and just above eye level.  It was 10:34AM.  It wasn't until 11:25 that I saw another raptor, a distant Sharp-shinned Hawk, which  flew a constant line of flap flap glide as it migrated north to south.

  Only three minutes later, at 11:28, an extremely high, lone, Red-tailed Hawk flew south, unchallenged by any of the "locals."  At 12:20 another Sharp-shinned Hawk flew south.  Bill Haley had arrived at 12:15.  I did the unthinkable for the hawk watch, I took my binoculars off the bird, thinking I could give Bill a location to search for the sharpie.  That was the last either of us saw the bird, although we both diligently searched the skies.  The last hawk of the day was another Red-tailed Hawk flying by at 1:43 as Bill was getting into his car heading to a church committee meeting.

  Our total time on the lookout was 9:30-5:30, another 8 hour day.  Jimmy was there from 9:30-4:30, Bill was there 12:15-1:45 and again from 4:30-5:30.  Temps. ranged from a cool 56 degrees to a hot 85 degrees F. Humidity dropped from 84% down to 27%.  Winds blew from calm alternating to gusts as high as 21+ MPH and ranged from variable points on the compass, one minute from the SSE and only seconds later from NW.  The barometric pressure dropped from 30.19 to 30.07.  Visibility started at 10 K (kilometers) and moved up to 55 K.  A spectacular 85% cloud cover diminished all the way down to 5% at close of the day.  At 2:00 the cloud cover was down to 15% dropping down to 10% at 3:00, which probably accounted for the lack of hawks seen later in the day.

Totals:
2  Sharp-shinned Hawks
1  Red-shouldered Hawk
2  Red-tailed Hawks

Other sightings:
C. Sulphur  9
Gulf Fritillary  5
Monarch  2

American Robins (22) @ 9:52; (17) @ 10:30

I tallied 18 species of dickie birds although I never tried to write down all the species seen and or heard.

Obvious birds, that I should have seen, but were lacking from my count were Black Vulture and American Bald Eagle.

Jimmy"

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Join us tomorrow morning, if you are able at 9am on the lookout. 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

Krider's Red-tail!!!

Nov. 3, 2016 report:

Arrived at 9:45 and left at 2:15. Barometric pressure started high  at 30.27 and dropped to 30.23 by 2:00. There was a light cloud cover that thickened up by noon, at which time the variable light wind became Westerly and 5-10 MPH.  This brought what had seemed like a decent hawk flight to a halt.

Saw the first hawk of the day, a Sharpie,  come over the north ridge at 10:47 and make a beeline straight towards me. It passed directly overhead and quite low. I wished I had the presence of mind to attempt a few pictures. Between then and 11:55 I counted 5 more Sharp-shins. 

The jewel of the day appeared over the brow at 11:40. It was a Red-tailed Hawk and it was being dived on by a Sharpie.  I figured it was a local, until it dodged the smaller hawk's dive and it's tail flashed almost solid white - very similar to the flash an adult Bald Eagle's tail makes when they turn. Now THAT was different!!! The tail had a faint rusty wash and the head was very light-colored. Every time it turned, that tail flashed. It was very distinctive and pointed to the bird's identity. It was a Krider's Red-tail, a very light color phase that comes from the prairie provinces of Canada. We've only seen a very few of these over the years. It caught a thermal and got very high before gliding south. I'd hoped it would give me a closer look as it passed. By far, the best hawk of the day!

Totals, 11/3/16:

Turkey Vulture - 19 (all in one group)

Sharp-Shin- 6

Red-tail- 3

Also seen: 261 American Robins

My next day on the lookout will be Monday, Nov. 7.

Reporting: Bill Haley

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November 7th is the filming of what goes on at a hawk watch.  Please join us if you are able at 9 am.

 

November weather makes it easy these days to

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!