1. The first counted Hawk of the season was a Cooper's Hawk,
and the first reporting counter was Tami King. Thank you, Tami.
2. Bill and Tami have designated a few days they know they
will be there.
3. Counters are needed, this season.
Here are the emails from Tami and Bill for the reports and
known dates they can be at the watch.
Please follow the Facebook page and links to the blog for updates and
records as they come in. :
Tami's report to Bill ~
Sunday Sept. 9
Coopers Hawk 1
Broad-winged Hawks 2
"Hope this finds you doing well! In spite of the less
than ideal weather I spent nearly 3 hours at the Hawk Watch site today.
Attached is the data sheet.
A Cooper's zipped in high from the north. It was barely
visible without binoculars but exhibited the classic shape and a few choppy
wing flaps. It headed SW on a straight line at 11:15 AM. At 11:50 I was
scanning holes in the clouds and spotted two Broad-winged Hawks really high in
a break in the clouds on the same basic line as the Coopers. They circled up,
winked in and out as they gained altitude and eventually headed SW disappearing fast in the clouds. There may
have been one more on the same line but it was too difficult to keep track and
be sure once they reached the point of lining out so I'm only reporting 2
BW's.
A few minutes before 1 PM nearby thunder and rain ran me off
the mountain. It's not many birds but at least it's a start!
I plan on going up
for the next couple of Sundays as well though on the 23rd. I'll have to leave
earlier than I like to get back to in time to play a concert.
'Hope to see you some time soon!
Tami King "
Bill's reply~
"Hello Tami;
It is good to hear from you!
Thanks for your report. I’m happy you saw a few hawks. I’ll
send it along to Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson. Hopefully Cynthia will continue
the Soddy Mountain blog this season.
... I plan to get up to the hawk lookout whenever I can. I
will see you up there around 12:30-1pm on Sundays after I get out of church.
You mention the next two Sundays. Will you not be available on Sunday, Sept.
30? We are having homecoming at church that day, so it’ll be late, maybe
2:00-2:30, before I can get there that day.
Bill"
Bill also mentions that he hopes to get up as often as
possible the week of Sept 17th - 21.
Bill says he may be emailed at insul8rbill@yahoo.com to make reports.
Mine and Jimmy's health prevents us from making scheduled
trips or all day stays. If we are able
later we will post the days we plan go and whether it will be morning or afternoon.
Anyone able to commit to a few hours, please notify us so we
can let other's know.
Or go...if you can and report your sightings.
Sundays look like a good regular date for those who wish to
visit. Counters will be glad to have the
help, I am sure.
As always, anytime that the weather is rainy all day,
counter will not go, and they will not stay for thunderstorms that get too
near. But if there are days when a front
has made it rainy for a day or two, the hawks are usually backed up, and
waiting to fly. The day immediately after, or day of when the weather breaks
are the best flight days, most of the time.
In addition, the last two weeks of the season are the days most BWs come
thru historically, when it is most likely to see kettles. But if you just love
hawks, and are willing to wait on the individuals coming through, any day with
breaks in the clouds will usually reward you with a migrant, or a glimpse of
locals for sure.
We do not have to be there for birders to enjoy some time at
the site.
Just come prepared:
1. a comfy chair which allows you look up for long periods
of time.
2. Sufficient food and water, especially water, to keep hydrated in the still high temps. In
the hi 80s to 90s these days.
3. Sunscreen and bug spray are a must.
4. A good hat
5. Binoculars are often a must, because the hawks are often
high. A good bird book can help sometimes, old or new birders.
6. Sorry, we aren't able to provide the restroom facilities
on a regular basis this year.
Thanks again to Tami King, for getting the season underway!! We appreciate your time soooo much. Hope to see you one day soon.
As always we would like to remind you, it is definitely time
to
KEEP LOOKING UP!!!
Blessings All,
Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson
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