Sept. 29, 2018.
Coverage: 0930-1630 EST
Counter: Bill Haley
Guests: Bill Holt (1030-1300), Woody Woodiel (1300-1630)
Broad-wing Grand Finale?
I expected to see a lot of Broad-wings when I arrived at the lookout this morning. I figured there might be many that didn't make it through yesterday. Instead it took me an hour to see the first one. Luckily I did count an adult Bald Eagle and a Peregrine that sailed directly overhead, along with several sharpies that showed up in the interim. Bill Holt made his first appearance on the lookout this fall, and things were slow. I had to ask myself if almost all the BW's had indeed gone by yesterday. I'd seen a mere 18 by 1452. Bill left at 1300 and Woody Woodiel, who I hadn't seen in several years, was there. I really wanted to show him a kettle, even though that seemed unlikely. At 1455 I spotted a kettle of 51, right in the middle of a big cloud in front of us. Should be easy. Right? Wrong. Woody had a small little pair of compact binoculars and despite my best efforts, he didn't find a single hawk. Seven minutes later, a much larger group totaling 110 birds streamed into the same cloud. Did Woody see them? Nope! (And these were mid-range birds, not specks.) I'm not sure which of us was more frustrated after he missed over 160 fairly easy birds right at the very end of BW migration. I thought there might not be another chance. Incredibly, six minutes later another 67 BW'S came streaming through! Woody finally got on some of them. Another kettle of 18 two minutes later, and a final four seven minutes after that was the end of a very surprising 30 minutes. Was it the BW Grand Finale for fall 2018? Guess that question will be answered tomorrow.
Weather: Clouds started at 80% and dwindled to 40% at days end. Wind was from the NE all day, usually 2-5 mph, with occasional gusts. Barometric pressure fell during the day from 30.24 to 30.18. Temperature ranged from 71 F - 82 F. Visibility was an excellent 65 - 70 K all day. Humidity fell from 78% -45%.
Hawks by the hour:
0900: 0
1000: OS 1, BE 1 (ad.), BW 13, PG 1
1100: BE 1 ( imm.), SS 5, BW 1
1200: OS 1, SS 3, BW 2, RT 1
1300: BW 1
1400: BE 1 (imm.), SS 1, BW 52
1500: SS 1, BW 190, AK 2, ML 1
1600: BE 1 (ad.), RT 1
9/29/18
Totals:
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 10
Broad-winged Hawk 269
Red-tailed Hawk 2
American Kestrel 2
Merlin 1
Peregrine 1
____________________
Total raptors = 291
Migrant butterflies:
Cloudless Sulphur 53
Monarch 8
Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr"
We are inching toward a 90,000 bird grand total for 26s years of counting. I used to joke about reaching a 100,000 hawk mark, but it doesn't seem so far away now. Although storms have affected flights for certain this year, our numbers are not way higher or way lower than several average years. I am pleased with the team's reports this year, and sad I couldn't participate on the watch itself.
Want to praise the guys and especially Bill for the dedication and long hours.
Great Birding all....
KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!
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