Will This Be Bill's last day to count?

We drove through Bill's church parking lot, yesterday, and missed seeing him among the many students waiting to present in the Soddy Daisy Parade.  But we are surprised he even tried to go through the traffic to get to the hawk watch. With December well underway, it seems the count is almost over:

"Soddy Mountain, TN, Sun., Dec. 2, 2018

Coverage: 1530-1630 = 1.0 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: Clear. Wind SW 5-10 @ 1530, increasing to SW 10-20 @ 1600. Temperature 72-71F. Barometric pressure 29.70, falling to 29.69. Visibility 20 K. Humidity 23%.

Raptors: 0

I got a very late start on this beautiful, unseasonably warm afternoon. Today was quite a change from the past two dreary, rainy days. Our church is right on the route of the Soddy-Daisy, TN Christmas parade. I helped hand out snacks and drinks to parade-goers and band members who form up at the church prior to the parade. Couldn't get loose until after 3:00, which is already too late for a hawk flight this deep into the season. I hoped for a late day migrant, and it didn't happen. The only birds seen were a few TV's lazily drifting back to their roosts at day's end. 

This may very well be my last report from Soddy Mountain this year. If weather patterns turn out the way the meteorologists predict, next weekend - my last chance, may be wet both days. Definitely not the way I wanted fall 2018 to end!

Christmas counts start Sat., Dec. 15.

Reporting: William G. Haley, Jr."

 

Bill has put in the hours, and the count is a great one.  It isn't officially at the final numbers until Dec 31, but if Bill doesn't return, we can't say he eeked out every possible hour!

 

A few days ago, I was with my daughter picking up my grandson, at school east of the watch, and I looked up to dozens of vultures gathering to on spot in the sky, and spiraling out of sight in the heights, only to have a new group gather to the same spot and sour to unviewable heights. I couldn't help but wonder if that could have been seen from the watch. But I also wondered if that was the big day for movement.  Nothing says they will always move within the viewing area of the hill, so it's always the luck of the flight paths.  And Bill had a lot of luck and good flights this year. 

 

Until, the weekend when we see if there might be a few more to add, but things are now focused on the holidays.  And I will post any new emails from Bill, but may be a few days after the first to do the final stats, and post the Hawkcount final chart.

 

Whether, for hawks or any other bird, we hope you counters have some great counts this holiday season!!!

KEEP LOOKIN UP!!!