Never a Bad Falcon Day

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk totals
Tues., Sept. 18, 2018. 

Arrived: 0800 (Jim Rowell), 0945 (Bill Haley). Left 1545 due to rain. We hoped for numerous hawks today, but it seems the big numbers are probably still to our north. Weather from Hurricane Florence continues to affect both Soddy Mountain and areas above Tennessee.

Weather:

0800: Clouds 40% , wind N 2-4, visibility 30k, baro. 29.98. 

0900: Clouds 45%, wind N 1-2, temp. 71 F, visibility 50K.

1000: Clouds 40%, wind N 2-4, visibility 55K.

1100: Clouds 20%, wind E 1-2, temp. 75 F, visibility 65K. 

1200: Clouds 55%, wind N 2-5, temp. 77 F.

1300: Clouds 60%, wind N 3-10,  rain showers to south and east, temp. 80 F.

1400: Clouds 80%, wind N 1-2, temp. 82 F. 

1500: Clouds 85%, wind NE 2-4, visibility 35K, 

temp. 84 F. Big rain storm approached from north, and we left lookout at 3:45 when it began to rain.

Cooper's Hawk: (1) 11:49.

Broad-winged Hawk: (3) 11:03, (1) 11:34 (low), (1) 11:348 (low), (1) 2:25 (low), (1) 2:34 (low), (1) 2:45 (low), (1) 2:50 (low).

Peregrine Falcon: (1) 10:58.

Sept. 18, 2018

Totals:

CH 1

BW 9

PG 1

____________

[Total Raptors 11 ]

The five BW, starting at 2:25, were all near eye level and were having to flap as they came by the lookout. At the time a heavy rain shower was to the northeast, about 2-3 miles away, over the town of Sale Creek. All these birds were obviously getting away from that shower. 

Peregrine Falcon was a great first bird of the day! Nice looks!

Notable sighting: 13 American White Pelicans flew over the lookout at 1201 flying south. They were at medium altitude, and we had great looks! The ones yesterday, by comparison, were at extreme distance.

Counters: Jim Rowell 0800-1545, Bill Haley 0945-1545.

Migrant butterflies: 

Cloudless Sulphur 38, Monarch 5

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!