Whoops!!! There It IS! ~ 4002~

Season Total just crossed the 4000 bird mark!
Friday's count was the clincher
Here's the data as it appears on Hawkcount.org



October numbers only, but the bottom line
 shows the fall Total ~ 4002!!! (click to view)

"Soddy Mountain hawk totals
Fri., Oct. 19, 2018 

Coverage(all times EST):

0830-1530 = 7.0 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: Clouds (high, thin cirrus) 25% @ 0830, increasing to 50% @ 1000, 60% @ 1100, changing to mixed cirrus/stratus and staying that way for the rest of the day. Wind started very weak, SE 1-2 for first 3 hours. I thought of the old hawkwatching saying, "No wind, no hawks". Luckily it picked up @ 1100 to SE 5-8, and changed @1200 to S 5-10 mph, with some stronger gusts. When the winds got stronger, so did the hawk flight. Temperature 48-72 F. Barometric pressure 30.34, decreasing to 30.20.

Raptors: ( all times EST):

0800: 0

0900: SS 1, CH 1

1000: TV 10, SS 6

1100: TV 12, SS 6, ML 2

1200: SS 5

1300: TV 69, SS 6, CH 2

1400: NH 1, SS 2

1500: TV 4
 

Raptor totals:

10/19/18 

Turkey Vulture 95

Northern Harrier 1

Sharp-shinned 21

Cooper's 3

Merlin 2

______________
Raptor Total = 122
 

     It was a day of surprises. You never know what you'll see. I sure wish Ian, who visited yesterday, could have been there today. Hawks were closer and more numerous. And I had clouds!

     At 12:12, a small, dark falcon crested the north ridge. The Merlin quickly approached the lookout, passing at eye level about 200 feet out and affording great looks. I wrote it down and on the next scan picked up another small hawk, which I figured would be a sharpie. Wait a minute - that bird had pointed wings too. Another Merlin, and this one turned toward the lookout, passing directly overhead at 12:15. I'm not sure I ever had back-to-back Merlins - especially 3 minutes apart! 

     I hoped for some big kettles of Turkey Vultures. At 2:50 one group of 54 showed up, and 5 minutes later, another 15. Several smaller groups helped up the total to 95. There will be more to come!

      It seemed to be a day for pairs. Five times a pair of sharpies came through together.

     At 3:25 I saw a bird with a strong dihedral approaching the brow of the north ridge. I thought to myself it looked a bit too bouyant for a TV. As it barely scraped over the treetops, the female Northern Harrier flapped 3-4 times, confirming my hunch. She flew down the valley below me, something we've only seen a handful of times at Soddy Mountain. All the others I've seen this year were very distant and high.

Other sightings: 

Blue Jay 33, Tree Swallow 7, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler ( first of fall), Blue-headed Vireo.

Monarch butterfly 1.

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr."

 

Super day. All because Bill was able to

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

 

Cynthia  and Jimmy Wilkerson