Deep Fog On Hawk Watch Hill

Sunday was enchanting at the hawk watch for Bill on Sunday. Not because of the Hawk Count, but be. cause there couldn't be a hawk count.  What we always say, is zero is a number, and being there to know why 0 hawks could be counted is data. NO DATA is STILL DATA.  It's part of the record, even when it's zero.  And keeping the weather data has indications about which we've talked before, like wind and rain and barometer will affect flight.  I have been there once, on a day like Bill's day Sunday, and found it as inspiring as Bill did Sunday.  So when there aren't hawks, being able to collect weather evidence is equally important.

But Speaking of numbers, please note Bill's email where he did what I've been doing, and referenced the stats from the past, and did a comparison to earlier years.  He found for himself how the number play out!  Be sure to read the results at the bottom of the page!

"Soddy Mountain, TN, Sun.
 Nov. 25, 2018

Coverage: 1145-1215= 0.5 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

  Raptor Total: 0

Weather: Dense fog. Visibility less than 100 feet. Wind calm. No readings for temp., baro or humidity.

It was foggy in the valley when I got out of church but I decided to drive up to the lookout since it would probably be my last chance in November. Sometimes it can be cloudy down low, but more clear atop the mountains.

Conditions were definitely different at the lookout, the fog was twice as bad. I was truly inside a very dense cloud! From where I always sit, I could faintly see the pole, less than 100 feet away. I couldn't see the house across the road, or the fence around it, which is much closer. I could hear the traffic on Hwy. 111 below me, but I couldn't see it. It was by far the thickest fog I've experienced this year. I gave up after 30 minutes.

I will send some photos.

Reporting: William G. Haley Jr."

 

Let me share Bill's pictures with you ~ beautiful shots!

About 30 - 40 feet away from the pole.
 

View from where I sit, if you look closely you might be able to see the pole.



Grass seed heads were covered in water droplets

This is my favorite, Bill says. A dew-covered funnel web.


Don't Forget to keep looking to the bottom,  Bill's shows where our record stands!!!

Bill comments: I kind of like this shot of tall Indian Grass in front of fog-shrouded pines.
I like it too, Bill.
 

Looking Directly at Sue's House 



Looking over the edge of the bluff. Hey. 111 is right down there...Somewhere.

All the pictures above are by William G. Haley, all rights reserved.

 

 

Jimmy and Cynthia,

"I've been looking through past statistics on the Soddy Mountain Hawk Watch blog, comparing them to this fall. (Seems I like numbers. Who would have thunk it?) You might find them interesting. I looked specifically at Broad-winged Hawk totals and season totals for all 26 years. While nowhere near our top year of 2015,  it turns out 2018 ranks higher than I would have guessed.

Broad-winged Hawk, top totals:

#1. 2015: 8135

#2. 2009: 5242

#3. 2002: 5073

#4. 2012: 4807

#5. 2018: 3643

Season totals, all raptors:

#1. 2015: 8618

#2. 2002: 6748

#3. 2009: 5511

#4. 1995: 5290

#5. 2012: 4905

#6. 2003: 4861

#7. 2018: 4524

It was a bit of a surprise that 2018's BW total was our 5th best out of 26 years! As for season totals, I still hope to add a few more hawks this year, but it is doubtful I'll see enough to move up above 7th best ever.

Bill"

 

As soon as the numbers neared 4500, I knew that we were getting up there.  I like that he went ahead and listed the top numbers out - so easy to see the results as we near the end of season. What difference might 1 month more make? Maybe not much, but a top 5 BW count, and a top 7 all time count, is OK by me.

 

Thanks Bill for all those hours when you dedicated your time to

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

 

Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson

 

Largest #s In THE COUNTRY

Bill sent a note and mentioned that he noticed something cool on the Hawkcount.org site.  Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.  May your Holidays be amazing, and fun. Blessings to all.

Preparations will be underway for Christmas bird counts, and the focus will turn from mirgrant counts by Christmas. But until then, Bill can add a few more birds to the YTD if he has a few hours this month. Because the season isn't over until he says he's done. Again, we don't post the final until after the first of the new year. WOW! Almost 2019 shakes me up. 

Here's Bill's note:

"Jimmy and Cynthia;

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. Just checked HawkCount and want to thank you for getting it up to date. I know it has been rough for you Jimmy. I pray you are getting better and stronger every day.

Don't know if you realized it or not, but on Nov. 16 Soddy Mountain had the biggest total birds (112) of any reporting hawk lookout in the entire COUNTRY! On Nov. 18 we were second, bested only by a site in Minnesota I never heard of prior to that.

Also see we've finally made it over 4500 for the season. I will go up there tomorrow after church, so maybe will be able to add a little more in November. 

It's back to work Monday, and it may be next weekend before I can make it up there again - to see what comes by in December. We are getting down to the wire, but I'm not quite ready to call it quits yet. I think I can squeeze a few more hawks out this season! 

Can't believe the Red-tails have stopped short of us again!!! I thought for sure all the pieces of the puzzle were there this year to trigger a good flight past Soddy Mountain. The locals have been very active and I've witnessed lots of pair bonding behavior. Very often I've seen 3-4 flying together. Remember how we used to see the locals get up and escort migrants out of their territories?  This year it's almost like they are throwing a welcoming party for migrants and nobody's showing up for the party. They are beautiful, magnificent birds, but I'm tired of looking at the locals. I'd rather see RT's passing on through, headed south.

Bill"

 

Here's hoping for some good weather, on his last hours up there, when he can eek them out.

 

Blessings ALL!!!

Keep Looking UP!!!

283 Cedar Waxwings and a MIlipede! Slow day...

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk totals
Fri., Nov. 23, 2018

 

Coverage: 0915-1215 = 3.0 hrs. 

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 100% clouds (thin, sun could be seen through them. Wind SSW 2-10. Visibility 20-35k. Temperature 35-46 F. Other readings not available.

Hawks by hour:

0900: 0

1000: NH 1, CH 1

1100: RT 1

1200: 0

Totals:

11/23/18 

Northern Harrier 1

Cooper's 1

Red-tailed 1

_______________ 

Total: 3

Tough day with 100% clouds. Cloud cover was thin and you could see the sun, but only strong enough to cast dim shadows. After an hour, I  despaired of seeing any hawks, so it was a treat to see a Northern Harrier clear the north ridge. It is one species that is always a possibility on a marginal, cloudy day. Later on in the hour an adult Cooper's Hawk came through, and then a Red-tail during my last hour. It was nice to get three countable hawks when I feared getting skunked!

 

Other sightings: 

Field Sparrow - partially leucistic bird with white outer tail feathers. It was right beside a normally-plumaged Field Sparrow and was seen well.

American Crow: flocks of 34 and 29. Larger numbers than I usually see. 63 total.

Sandhill Crane 4 

American Robin 160 

 

Cedar Waxwing 283 

 

Young 1" millipede, probably Narceus americanus, feeding on a ladybug I squashed yesterday. 

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr."

 

Got a little hard today to

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

Note: Jimmy found 2 Bald Eagles that were in the dialogue that failed to make the count, so he has edited the Bald Eagle count by +2.  Making the adjustment.  He says our numbers match.

 

 

Thanksfiving Day Report

Thanks for the Holiday Report, Bill:

Bill's ladder back chair, and worn spot on the watch.
He says it's quite a bit different than during BW season.
Pic by Bill Haley

"Soddy Mountain hawk totals
Thurs., Nov. 22, 2018

Coverage: 0945-1345 = 4.0 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: Clouds 5%-10% (all south of lookout). Wind ENE 2-8 mph. Barometric pressure 30.40, gradually going down to 30.35. Humidity 68%-43%. Visibility 45-50K.

Raptors by hour: 

0900: 0

1000: TV 19, RS 1

1100: CH 1, RT 2

1200: BE 1 (ad.)

1300: SS 1

Turkey for Turkey day. LOL
Bill Haley

Raptor totals:

11/ 22 /18

Turkey Vulture 19

Bald Eagle 1

Sharp-shinned 1

Cooper's 1

Red-shouldered 1

Red-tailed 2

_______________

Total raptors: 25

Other sightings:

Sandhill Crane 32

American Robin 48

Cedar Waxwing 102

Buck Moth 1 (first one seen this fall)

Question Mark butterfly 2

Reporting: William G. Haley Jr."

 

Fall Migration Season is winding down, but not over,  Soon Bald Eagles will build nests, and mate. The chart below is a clip from the Hawkcount.org page, showing the counts reported  on thanksgiving day.  NOTE the numbers from Cape May NJ.  364 Raptors!

 

Count totals reported on Thanksgiving Day to Hawkcount.org

 

It's pretty cold, but 25 migrating Raptors call out:

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!

Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson

 

 

 

JInxed and Not JInxed, 2 Reports in One

Well I Jinxed Bill last report. so sorry. NO MIGRANTS TUESDAY.

"Soddy Mountain
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018 

Coverage: 1400-1500 = 1.0 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Raptors: 0

Weather: Clouds 100%. Wind NW 10-20. Temperature 49F. Barometric pressure 30.21. Visibility 60 K. Humidity 56%.

Weathermen predicted clouds would clear out. It didn't happen, so I didn't expect much. Saw a few local vultures, but nothing migrating. Will hope for sunshine and hawks tomorrow.

Reporting: William G. Haley Jr"

 

But, they were up and flying by the next day!

 

'Soddy Mountain hawk totals

Wed., Nov. 21, 2018

Coverage: 0915-1430 = 5.25 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: Clear all day, 0 clouds. Wind NW 2-4 @ 0915, increasing to 5-10 @ 1000, changing to NNW 2-4 @ 1200 and for rest of day. Temperature 38-53F. Barometric pressure 30.35 @ 0915, increasing to 30.37 @ 1100, and then falling to 30.30 by 1400. Visibility 50-60K.

Raptors by hour: 

0900: BE 1 (ad.)

1000: BE 1 (ad.), CH 1

1100: BE 2 (both ad.), RT 1

1200: TV 5, RT 2

1300: RT 2

1400: 0

Raptor totals:

11/21/18 

Turkey Vulture 5

Bald Eagle 4

Cooper's 1

Red-tailed 5

_____________

Total raptors: 15 

Other sightings: 

Common Loon 2

Sandhill Crane 201

Cedar Waxwing 95

American Robin 69

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr"

 

Hope everyone Had a nice Holiday.   I will catch up  again tonight, with more stats.

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

Add a few Gold-crowned Kinglets to Your Hawkwatching

"Soddy Mountain hawk totals
 Mon., Nov. 19, 2018

Coverage: 0930-1400 = 4.50 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: Clouds 5% @ 0930, 10% 1000 till 1200, 20% @ 1200, 75% @ 1300, 95% when I had to leave due to rain @ 1400. Wind SE 2-5 mph @ 0930, changing to SSW 2-8 @ 1100, and gradually increasing to SSW 10-20. Temperature 45-64 F. Barometric pressure started 30.17 and gradually went down to 30.09.

Humidity 86%-53%.

Raptors by hour:

0900: 0

1000: 0

1100: TV 20, SS 1, CH 1

1200:TV 9, BE 2 (both 2nd yr.), SS 1, RT 1

1300: SS 1

 

Raptor totals:

 

11/19/2018 

Turkey Vulture 29

Sharp-shinned 3

Cooper's 1

Red-tailed 1

_______________ 

  Raptor Total = 34

Typically, SW or W winds produce poor hawk flights at Soddy Mountain, especially when they are strong, like the latter part of today. Steadily increasing clouds didn't help. Rain ended the day @ 1400.

You may remember my experiments on "hawk bait" back during the Broad-winged flight in September. My peanut butter and dill pickle sandwiches had remarkable success pulling in Bald Eagles and Broad-wings to count. I didn't have much to make sandwiches from today, so it was the old standard. I decided I'd eat my sandwich after I saw the first hawks. Before I could finish it, here came two 2nd year Bald Eagles 5 minutes apart, the first of which had more white, upper and lower, than any this year. Also 5 Turkey Vultures and a Red-tail. Wish I'd had another peanut butter and dill pickle sandwich!

 

Other sightings:  

American Robin 218, Cedar Waxwing 142. Had 2-3 Golden-crowned Kinglets in pines 10 feet away at edge of bluff.

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr."

 

The Rain this year, continues to cut into the counting time. But this week continues to be productive. There have been days Jimmy and I sat with others and never saw a single hawk.  Bill continues to have countable migrants. 

 

Missing the watch this year, and the good company.  Jimmy has not felt well, so he may not have Hawk-count caught up, but when he does, I will try and post a link or a copy of the recent totals. They verify my numbers, since their computers post updated numbers.

 

Tomorrow is expected to be sunny with winds out of the north. Low mph winds.  Might produce a good flight. 

Good Luck Bill.

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

Red-Tailed Hawks on the Move

Bill says he counted 40 Vultures passing over the pole when he took this pic.
And if you zoom in on this picture you might see at least 3 images of vultures streaming past.
But this is a good representation of Hawkwatching.  To the naked eye, it seems like just blue skies and clouds.
With Binoculars, it's a different story!

Soddy Mountain hawk totals
Sun., Nov. 18, 2018

Coverage: 1115-1600 = 5.75 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: Clouds 85% @ 1115, 70% @ 1200, 50% for rest of day. Wind calm @ 1115, S 1-2 @1200, SW 2-5 1400-1600. Temperature 45 - 61F. Barometric pressure 30.30 falling gradually to 30.19. Visibility 20K @ 1115  (very hazy over valley), gradually increasing to 30K. Humidity 54-51%.

Raptors by hour:

1100: SS 1

1200: 0

1300: TV 65, RT 4

1400: TV 109, RT 2

1500: TV 10, RT 4

Raptor totals:

11/18/18 

Turkey Vulture 184

Sharp-shinned 1

Red-tailed 10
_________________

Total raptors: 195

Cloud cover early, finally cleared enough for thermals to form after 1300. Sharpie was first hawk of the day. Turkey Vultures streamed through in small groups most of the afternoon, but a close kettle of 44 over the north ridge at 1456 was a nice surprise. Red-tailed Hawks are starting to show up, and I expect their numbers to increase in the coming days.

Makes me wonder what came by yesterday when sun was out all day?

Other sightings: While the early part of the day was hawk-poor, other migrants that don't rely on thermals put on a show. Between 1115 and 1200, I counted 358 American Robins (including flocks of 85, 77 and 78) and 303 Cedar Waxwings! However, my favorite migrant was one Common Loon - a rare sighting at Soddy Mountain.

I will man the lookout every day the coming week, weather permitting. Can't wait to see what else shows up!

Butterflies: 4-5 Question Marks - a butterfly that overwinters as an adult.

Other insects: It warmed up enough for ladybugs to fly, although in much less numbers than the last time I was there.

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr.

 

 

Good November numbers. Exciting that a few days of sun means more to come.' Only 5 more birds and Bill's numbers top 4,500 Hawks counted for this fall season.  He obviously stands at 4,445, if my prelim numbers verify. Way to GO!
 

 Just crossed the 91,000 Hawks mark for all seasons....91,062 All Season Total!
 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

Vultures Take the Day!

Northern Snows and 4 days of rain here, should be sending good numbers of what's left up north scedattling South.  Did you ever have a parent use that word?  Means to get yourself up and go!  They should be happy to find some southern warmth.  The migrants --- hawks that is.

Bill had a good day, maybe not as exciting as he expected, but good!

Here's his report:

"Soddy Mountain hawk totals,

Fri., Nov. 16, 2018

Coverage: 0915 - 1500 = 5.75 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: Clouds thin cirrus / stratus 25% @0915, gradually increasing to 50% by 1400. Wind SSW 2-5 mph @ 0915, changing to ESE @ 1100, and SE 2-8 mph @ 1200 till 1500. Barometric pressure 30.23, decreasing to 30.16. Temperature 33-50 F.

Raptors by hour:

0900: 0

1000: BV 16, SS 1, RT 1

1100: NH 1

1200: TV 15, RS 1, RT 3

1300: TV 18, RT 2

1400: TV 54

Total raptors:
11/16/2018 

Black Vulture 16

Turkey Vulture 87

Northern Harrier 1

Sharp-shinned 1

Red-shouldered 1

Red-tailed 6
___________________ 

Total Raptors: 112  

Other species: Sandhill Crane 140, Cedar Waxwing 40, heard Golden-crowned Kinglets.

While it wasn't as good a flight as I had hoped for after 4 days of rain, there were birds moving in response to wintry weather conditions north of Tennessee. Since clouds didn't clear till late last night, most birds may not have had time to get this far south. Tomorrow may be very good. Unfortunately, I cannot be there tomorrow, so I will have to pick back up Sunday afternoon and whenever possible next week.I think there are still many birds to count.

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr."

 

I believe these are the first Black Vultures counted.  I rather like that he also had 140 Sandhills.  For those who don't join counts this time of year, you can count Vultures and have them turn back North, so it's sometimes a challenge to watch them out of sight, but in general most are at least doing the shift South thing.  Even if large numbers of them are gathering but not moving on. So as I said, it can be a challenge to know which to count. BUT....when they are really on the move, they just keep getting it, and you know pretty soon.  So I am hoping Bill had a lot of groups moving through with determination today in this cold.

 

Thanks for this report.

We have an excellent YTD already, and this only enhances the value of this year's numbers! YTD is now 4250 hawks.

 

Wish some one of you could go up tomorrow...

 

It might be a great day to

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

 

Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson

A Veteran Twice Over and More Hawks on the Horizon

Bill continues to find time to count on the watch, and we believe most birders would love a nice cool day on the hill counting the birds we wouldn't let you count earlier in the year. LOL It's Red-Tail, Vulture, and Northern Harrier prime time now.  Hopefully, a Golden Eagle might find it's way into the count. Bill reminds us...

"The raptor migration is an event spread out over three months each fall. It continues through November, and sometimes even spills over into December a bit. As the weather gets colder up north, Red-shouldered Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles and possibly even Northern Goshawks, Rough-legged Hawks  or Golden Eagles will be forced south. Soddy Mountain lookout will be covered when I’m able and the weather allows. The season’s not over until I say it is over!

 

Nov. 10-11 is my weekend to work at the Tennessee Aquarium. I’m sad I couldn’t man the hawk lookout on either Saturday or Sunday, which featured bright blue skies following some rainy days. Snow around the Great Lakes and generally bad wintry weather up north probably has some hawks moving south. I will have to work through Wednesday, Nov. 14, but will be off starting Thursday, Nov. 15. I may not be able to get up there Thursday, as the weathermen are predicting rain. I will be there on Friday, Nov. 16 all day if conditions are favorable. No coverage Saturday, Nov. 17.  I’ll be out of town all day. On Sunday, Nov. 18, I’ll be there after church, around 12:30. I will be on vacation Nov. 19-25, and will be there when I can, possibly taking a break on turkey day.  The late season flight has been disappointing the last couple of years, but the 2018 weather patterns seem to be conducive for more hawks to migrate south this year. Stay tuned for some late season numbers at Soddy Mountain. I’m looking forward to bundling up and seeing what comes past! If you visit the lookout, dress warm.

 

Since I’m writing this on Veterans Day, I’d like to publicly thank Jimmy Wilkerson,  one of my very favorite veterans. Jimmy served in the Viet Nam War. He and I have shared many very memorable hawk days on the lookout, as well as numerous Christmas Counts over the years. Thank you for your service Hawk Man Jimmy! Sadly his health has kept him mostly off the lookout this year but I miss him and his jokes very much. Also a big thank you to any veteran who may be reading this on the Soddy Mountain blog.

 

Bill Haley"

 

Thank You Bill.
 

Jimmy served with the 101st Airborne, whose symbol might have been a bit of a foretelling of what would become his birding passion.  His love of hawk-watching. And we have you to thank for that.  I have always been a bird watcher, since childhood. And though Jimmy became interested in birds when he began feeding them for my sake, he became totally engaged with being able to participate in a way that made a difference, when you opened his world to raptor migration counts.
 

He now can say he is also a veteran Hawk watcher, and I believe he would hold it among his greatest life pursuits.
 

We also wish all Veterans and their families the very best in life.  WE GRATEFULLY THANK EACH ONE. Our son also is a veteran, peacetime, thankfully, who loved the Marines.

We have a neighbor whom we've watched from his youth to become a young adult , who on this special weekend stopped by in his army uniform to share with us his excitement at having gone through his Basic and AIT training and is entering Ranger training with great pride.  What a joy to hug him on this Veterans weekend. And he and Jimmy shared uniforms, todays compared to the 1970 Vietnam one.  Both enthralled with sharing the changes and the likenesses of their experiences.  Only they who've been through it could relate as they did.

Looking forward to more numbers for the month of November, and seeing the changes in species which prefer the late migration movement.  There can still be significant changes in the numbers.  Even if Bill had not been able to announce more days on the watch, we never call the season's end until December 31st, just in case! Take note of the new expected times Bill is giving us, or set yourself down for a few on the watch yourself, and send us the numbers!

Looking forward to some wonderful Holidays. Precious days with family and friends. Thankful to you all for continuing to keep watch on the Soddy Mountain Hawk Watch experience!

Keep LOOKING UP!!!!

 

 

 

Every Bird Counts!

Amidst these rainy days, a few beautiful skies have smiled.  Bill found a little time to head up to the watch, and pulled out this report for Tuesday.

"Soddy Mountain hawk totals
 Tues., Nov. 6, 2018

Coverage:

1430-1530

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: Clouds 2% @ 1430, increasing to 20% @ 1530. Wind WNW 2-8. Temperature 68-71 F. Barometric pressure 29.99-30.00. Visibility 60K.

Hawks by hour:

1400: SS 1, RT 1

1500: 0

Hawks:

10/06/18

Sharp-shinned 1

Red-tailed 1

_____________ 

Total Raptors = 2

     The big story today was ladybugs. Not just a few ladybugs. Not hundreds. Thousands of ladybugs! It happens every year as the weather turns colder. Ladybugs swarm, looking for a snug spot to spend the winter. I continually shook ladybugs off my clothes, hat, binoculars and hands. They found my hat to be an attractive landing field and it sounded like I was being pelted by rain. They crawled down my neck and under my shirt. Ladybugs everywhere! If you've never been assaulted by a horde of ladybugs, here is a word to describe them. STINKY! With ladybugs all over you there are casualties, and squashed ladybugs stink. Do ladybugs bite? YES they do. They are beetles with mandibles and I got bit a couple times today.

      As a hawkwatcher I've trained myself to stop at dark spots as I scan the sky. Thousands of little flying specks made scanning a challenge today. Thank goodness a Sharp-shin and Red-tail showed up to represent for the hawks and keep me from getting skunked!

Monarch butterfly 1

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr."

 

Every day I have a few minutes to be outside, I am finding myself searching the skies, because I know that especially as cold weather knocks on the door, it still pays to

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!