Falcons Are The Draw Lately ~ A Merlin Today

5 Broadies released on the watch, from Bill and Candy Haley

In contrast to yesterday, we had some clouds most of the day at Soddy Mountain hawk lookout, but still did not see large numbers of migrant Broad-winged Hawks. We can only hope they will show up soon! Historically, the average dates for peak BW numbers are coming up.

Tuesday
Sept. 19, 2017
 

Today's numbers:

Bald Eagle - 1 (2nd year bird)

Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1

Peregrine Falcon - 1

Merlin - 1 (diving on a Broad-wing)

Broad-winged Hawk - 73

BW hour-by-hour:

10-11: - 6

11-12: - 3

12-1: - 7

1-2: - 55 (one kettle of 38)

2-3: - 0

3-4: - 2

Weather stats:

Clouds ranged from 2% in the morning to 30% at 11:00, 45% at 2:00, 65% at 3:00, 85% at 3:45, when we were chased off the lookout by an approaching thunderstorm.

Temperatures: 65 F @ 8:00, increasing gradually to 82 F @ 3:00.

Barometric pressure: 30.03 @ 8:00, gradually dropping to 29.94 @ 3:00.

Visibility: Very hazy. 10-25 K all day.

Humidity: 90%, dropping gradually to 54%.

Counters:

Jim Rowell 8:00-3:455

Harold Birch 8:45-3-45

Bill Haley 10:00-3-45

Reporting: Bill Haley 

                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jimmy and I were driving in that storm which made it to the guys on the hill by 3:45.  It began to rain on us in Murphreesboro before noon, and became increasingly stormy all the way home.  We could see sun off to the south, but only dark clouds off to the north and wondered if hawks would even fly west into this muck.  Since the barometric pressure dropped to a nice low, it will be worth  checking it, early in the morning to any watchers waiting on a good day. Look for Winds out of the N to NE ideally, under 10 MPH, and a partially cloudy day.  If there is also a way for you to know if the barometer is falling, it is time for a good day.

 

Even with the numbers being  a little slow so far, any day I have been up so far was full of interest, because the variety of birds have been good.  Of course those blue sky days were rough on the ones there.  But even in blue skies, a nice cool afternoon might yield birds dropping from heights to lower skies where they may be seen.  We have always called our watchers to action after a front passes.  And although it wasn't a whole  day to back them up, hawks coming down the pike sat down yesterday and will be waiting on the morning break in clouds to the west.

 

If you come, bring plenty of hydration.  And a chair that will allow you to

 

KEEP LOOKING  UP!!!

Jimmy and Cynthia