Visitor with Good Eyes Helps at the Hawk Watch! 10-18-18

Bill sent a picture of a Bald Eagle which flew directly over him the day before.  As I put it up, I want to remind you, there is a page for helps in Identification on this blog: IDENTIFICATION  which can be accessed from the left sidebar on the computer view, or in the arrow drop down bar on the cell phone view, (top right).  I am going to inset a picture I once took of an adult Bald Eagle over the watch, which I used to help people ID the distant eagle.  If you imagine either of these birds, my pic or Bill's against a white cloud sky...you might have difficulty seeing that white head and tail, even though it is almost neon white in the blue.  What is left is that expanse of straight wide dark wings. 
THE FLYING BOARD.  It will look like a plane in the extreme distance coming in straight at you.  It's a definitive way to ID a Bald Eagle at a great distance, long before you can see the head and tail we all love so much.  FLAT WINGS THAT SELDOM MOVE, unless fighting wind, rising up from stationary position, or deliberately gaining altitude where there is little lift. Otherwise, that big ole bird, never works at it. 

Many people ask us where is the best place to see Bald Eagles.  We often tell them to come to the Hawk Watch if they would like to see them in migration. I was counting back on the days and there have only been 5 days in a month that Bill didn't count Bald Eagles, and many early on were immatures, lacking the bright white head and tail. Depending on the year of their age.  But the flat wing stance with very straight wide wings are seldom not a real clue to even the highest or farthest one.  Even on days he didn't count migrants, there have been many days locals were busy slipping in and out of the Lookout air space.  I continue to update and add birds to the ID page, and people like Ian who arrived to help Bill will benefit in learning the clues to distance Identification.


 Jimmy and I took today to catch up on rest, and just plain get over the last two days of pushing when your body doesn't want to go.  So we were so proud to hear, Bill had a guest to help him pull in Thursday's numbers.  Let's get to the numbers:

"Soddy Mountain hawk totals
Thurs., Oct. 18, 2018

Coverage (all times EST):

0800 - 1515 = 7.25 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

Helper: Ian Riley

Weather:

Clouds (thin Cirrus) 40% @ 0800, decreasing to 20% @ 0900, and gradually to 10% @ 1200. At 1300 clouds were 20%, but they were all behind us. Some clouds began forming in front of us @1400, 25%. By 1500 they were thicker "mackerel clouds" at 75%. Wind was N all day 5-15 mph. Temperature ranged from 53 F - 65 F. Barometric pressure started 30.40, was 30.43 from 1000-1200, then went down to 30.37 by 1500. Humidity 59% - 44%. Visibility was an excellent 70 K all day.

Hawks: (all times EST)

0800: SS 2

0900: TV 31, SS 1

1000: 0

1100: SS 3, RS 1

1200: OS 1, SS 2, CH 1

1300: TV 7

1400: NH 1, SS 1

Raptor totals:

10/18/18 

Turkey Vulture 38

Osprey 1

Northern Harrier 1

Sharp-shinned 9

Cooper's 1

Red-shouldered 1

_______________

Total  Raptors = 51 

Other sightings:

Blue Jay 43

Monarch butterfly 5

     I welcomed Ian Riley to the lookout for his first visit today. He has very sharp eyes and found several birds I would have missed. It was good to have his help and I will look forward to seeing him up there again. I shared some ID pointers and filled him in on the origins and history of the sport of hawkwatching. He first heard of hawkwatching when he stopped at a birding site while on a trip in Michigan and learned there was also a hawk watch nearby. This made him curious to see if there were any in Tennessee, and that's how he found us. Thanks again for the help today, Ian! You are welcome any time, and maybe the hawks will be flying better next time.

     Got a first large group of 31 migrant Turkey Vultures, with a later group of 7. Hope to see many more in the next few days. A late Osprey and Northern Harrier were nice too. 

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr"

 

The new numbers are up on Hawkcount.org.  Jimmy had a few minutes to catch them up.  Compare our numbers with other sites, and I challenge you to find out our Eagle total for the year while you are there.  Turkey Vultures are beginning to move.  Their numbers could really set this year's totals on a high note if someone is there to see them.  Bill continues to watch through this week end.

 

Thank you Ian!

Hope you will continue to

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!