Two Biggies Today ~ So Excited for the Counters

Bill started the early evening by sending this teaser email, but I was at the grocery and couldn't get it up.  So now I am going to give you the whole story, as they say:

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Fri., Sept. 27, 2019

Time on lookout: 0930-1600 = 6.5 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Visitors: Jayne Trapnell 1015-1530

                Charles Murray 1415-1600

Don't have time for a complete report right now, but thought I'd give a taste of our day totals. Still wasn't a red-letter day for Broad-wings, but we ended up with 69.

Got the first Merlin of the fall. 

Also got a really big surprise, an adult Golden Eagle!!! It flew directly over our heads at a fairly low altitude, so we all got good looks. I did not arrive at this identification lightly! More later.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley "

..........................................................................

 

A little later he forwarded a message from visiting watcher, Jayne Trapnell, who included a beautiful picture:

 

"Thank you for a delightful time today at the Soddy Mountain Hawk Watch, and for showing me “the ropes!”

I enjoyed it very much, and was tickled to see a Golden! 

Here is my best underwing shot of the Turkey Vulture that flew overhead.  Nature’s vacuum cleaners which play such an important role.

Maybe I’ll be able to head up again before the season is over, and maybe it might be a WEE bit cooler then.  

Thanks again Bill,

Jayne "

Turkey Vulture by Jayne Trapnell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Turkey Vultures have the white feathers all along the trailing edge of those wings it holds in a dihedral, or upturned v shape as it wobbles through the sky. It's one of the first birds new hawk watchers cut their teeth on, when learning IDs.  Thank you Jane for the great shot, and the great spot on the Golden, noting it wasn't a vulture!.)

 

But now for the rest of the story ~ 9-27 Part 2:

 

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report,

Fri., Sept. 27, 2019

Time on lookout: 0930-1600 = 6.5 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley 0930-1600

Visitors: Jayne Trapnell 1015-1530

                Charles Murray 1415-1600

Weather report:

0930 Clouds 20%, wind S 1-3, visib. 15K, temp. 72F. 1000 Clouds 25%, wind ENE 1-5, temp. 74F. 1100 Clouds 15%, wind E 1-3, temp. 79F. 1200 Clouds 10%, visib. 25K, temp. 85F. 1300 Clouds5%, visib. 35K, temp. 90F. 1400 Clouds 40%, wind ESE 2-8, temp. 92F. 1500 Clouds 50%, wind ESE 2-10, temp. 94F.

Raptors by hour:

0930-1000: 0

1000-1100: BW 1

1100-1200: BW 18

1200-1300: BW 10

1300-1400: SS 1, BW 12

1400-1500: BW 23, ML 1

1500-1600: GE 1(adult), BW 5

Total raptors:

GE 1

SS 1

BW 69

ML 1  

__________________

 72 total raptors 

Largest kettles of BW's: 10 @ 1308, 11 @ 1405.

I was joined by my good friend Jayne Trapnell for most of the day. She has helped me with many butterfly counts this summer - good training for dealing with the heat. It was her first time on a hawk lookout and we saw a good number of hawks, including a "bonus" bird - a seldom-seen adult Golden Eagle. Very few people who have ever visited Soddy Mountain hawk lookout have been that lucky...and she did it her first time out! I thoroughly enjoyed her company and she had a good time. I will work hard to get her back up there when it cools off a bit.

Charles Murray showed up about 2:15, so he got to see the Golden, the Merlin and a few Broad-wings (he said closer in than ever before). It was good to see him. (Yeah, Charles!)

Merlin was not close. Small, dark falcon observed from north ridge traveling in a straight line southwest very fast. At first I mistook it for a Chimney Swift coming head-on. Flight was very direct, not "fluttery" like an American Kestrel.

The biggest surprise of the day came at 1512. Jayne Trapnell reported a hawk flying with a Turkey Vulture over the north ridge. When I looked, the bird did indeed look like a large buteo, but I noted it was all dark, and it was big. I asked Jayne if she thought to note that it was the same size as the nearby TV, and informed her it was probably an immature Bald Eagle, as it definitely didn't have a white head or tail. However, I was a bit suspicious when it circled. I wasn't seeing the usual white speckling on the breast or underwings that you expect with immature BE. Lucky for us, the bird headed right for us and passed directly overhead, probably 200-300 feet up. We all saw clearly that there was NO white speckling on either the breast or underwings. In fact the entire bird was a uniform dark brown color. An adult Golden Eagle! This was a big surprise, as I consider Golden Eagle to be a late season migrant. I immediately consulted Hawks in Flight and the photos and descriptions of an adult Golden versus any stage of immature Bald Eagle confirmed the identification to all of us.

It was a fitting high note at the very end of an entire week on the lookout that has often been frustrating because of poor hawk flights.

I must return to work tomorrow, just when it seems the hawks may finally be moving in larger numbers. It would be nice if there is someone up there to document it! The temperatures are sure to continue breaking records, like they've done yesterday and today, so spending time up there is not easy. Hydration, sunblock, a wide-brimmed hat and sheer determination is vital. Who knows? For some intrepid person who is game, the payoff could be huge! Knowing what is possible is what keeps me coming back. And what

 

 KEEPS ME LOOKING UP!

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley"

 

You said it Bill!  

 

Magnificent Hawk Clouds

5 hrs of scanning the skies, several with zero hawks.  :(   ( I'm so sad for Bill)

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Thurs., Sept. 26, 2019

Time on lookout: 0930-1430 = 5.0 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Visitor: Mike O'Brien

Weather:

0930 Clouds 40%, wind NNW 1-4, visib. 50K, temp. 66F. 1000 Wind NNW 2-8, temp. 70F. 1100 Clouds 65%, wind WNW 10-15, temp. 76F. 1200 Clouds 60%, temp. 81 F. 1300 Clouds 50%, wind W 10-15, temp. 85F. 1400 Clouds 75%, wind W 15-20, temp. 88F.

Raptors by hour:

0930-1000: 0

1000-1100: BW 5

1100-1200: 0

1200-1300: OS 1, BW 3

1300-1400: 0

1400-1430: 0

Total raptors: OS 1, BW 8 = 9 total

A strong wind from the NW, shifting to W, generally produces the poorest hawk flights at Soddy Mountain, which is perched on the Eastern brow of Walden's Ridge. A Westerly wind tends to blow the hawks away from the ridge. 

While there were magnificent "hawk clouds", today there were few countable migrants seen in those clouds. It has been a disappointing Broad-wing season so far, and the next week will tell the tale. I only have tomorrow, and then must go back to work Saturday. I'm keeping fingers crossed tomorrow will be a different story. 

First Broad-wing of the day had the misfortune to be flying close to 5 American Crows. They dove on it numerous times and really gave it a hard time before it finally flew out over the valley to get away from them. It was about the same size as the crows.

Monarch butterflies: 7

Cloudless Sulphur: 10

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

........................................................................

 

Note from Bill:

"My friend Mike O'Brien, who lives in Valley Head, Alabama, visited the lookout from 1015-1345 today. Mike helps me with many butterfly counts each summer, but this was his first experience hawkwatching. Thankfully he got to see all the Broad-wings and the Osprey. While we didn't see a kettle, he has seen them before at his place, but admitted he didn't know what kind of hawk. I assured him they were BW's, as they are the only hawks around here that form kettles, so he learned something.He will probably come back to join me next Thursday."

 

Thank you Mike for showing up to support Bill today.  He's had few days alone this time, and I am so glad there are still people who are willing to come out for a while.

 

All reports from many locations show a very large number of migrants moving along the Eastern Flyway, midway between us and the coast.  No one can know the actual reason, but fronts that direct huge hurricanes to stay off our coasts, are certainly strong enough to push the hawks East.  I haven't ck"d  Hawkcout.org yet, but since we are beginning to be curious, I am wondering who is seeing hawks.  Might try to get some results up over the weekend.

 

Jimmy is posting our stats there again this year.  So head over and ck out the site if you can.

If there are any good reports from your area, drop into the facebook page and let us know.  Comments are welcome....if hawk related.

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

 

First Kestrels, and Accipiters Putting On A Show

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
 Wed., Sept. 25, 2019

Time on lookout: 0930-1630 = 7.0 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather report:

0930 Clouds 30%, wind NE 1-3, visib. 65K (Kingston, TN Steam Plant smokestacks clearly visible first time this fall), temp. 67F. 1000 Clouds 50%, temp. 71F. 1100 Clouds 20%, wind N 1-3, temp. 72F. 1200 Clouds 1%, wind ESE5-8, temp. 79F. 1300 Clouds 20%, wind S 2-5, temp. 85F. 1400 clouds 50%, temp. 89F. 1500 Clouds 10%, wind E 2-5, temp. 91F. 1600 Clouds 5%, temp. 92F.

Raptors by hour:

0930-1000: 0

1000-1100: SS 2, CH 2, BW 1

1100-1200: BW 27, AK 1

1200-1300: BW 14, AK 1

1300-1400: CH 1

1400-1500: SS 2

1500-1600: BW 5

1600-1630: 0

Total raptors:

SS 4

CH 3

BW 47

AK 2

.................

56 total  

Biggest BW kettle (18) @ 1154.

Interesting aerial contest between a SS and CH this morning. As I watched sharpie over north ridge, suddenly a Cooper's hawk, which I hadn't seen flying well above it, dove straight down on the smaller sharpie, chasing it into the trees. Both appeared in a moment, and the sharpie then dove at the larger hawk. After several interactions, both eventually gained significant altitude and continued to the south.

Monarch butterflies: 19. (Best number prior to today was 4 yesterday)

Cloudless Sulphur: 14

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

 

 

Thanks Bill.  Birding with you in Spirit!

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

Help On the Hawk Watch a Precious Thing

Bill Haley, I am so proud that our watchers old and new are supporting you this year! It's harder to scan empty skies than a sky full of hawks sometimes, when you are alone.  Data is data.  Our dry weather has to be affecting flights, or maybe the food sources.  Here's his report for

 Tuesday, Sept/24/2019:
Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report, Tues., Sept. 24, 2019

Time on lookout: 0930-1630 = 7.0 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley, 0930-1630

Visitors:

Cheryl Finley 1045-1500

Lenny Kafka 1230-1500

Ruth Ann Henry 1230-16:30

Weather report:

0930: Clouds 20%, wind E 2-5, visib. 35K, temp. 68F. 1000 Clouds 30%, wind E 2-8, temp. 71F. 1100 Clouds 50%. 1200 Clouds 60%, wind NE 2-8, temp. 79F. 1300 Clouds 50%, temp. 82F. 1400 Clouds 35%, wind NE 5-10, temp. 86F.

1500  Clouds 20%, wind NNW 5-10, temp. 87F. 1600 Clouds 2%, wind 5-10, temp. 89.

Raptors by hour:

0930-1000: BW 1

1000-1100: OS 1, BW 2

1100-1200: BW 1

1200-1300: BW 1

1300-1400: BW 4

1400-1500: SS 1

1500-1600: BW 5

1600-1630: 0

TOTAL: 

OS 1

 SS 1

 BW 14

____________

16 total raptors  

I welcomed a new hawkwatcher on the lookout today, Cheryl Finley. Cheryl heard about the hawk lookout at the last Chattanooga TOS meeting and decided to come up and see what hawkwatching is all about. She has been birding about four years. Cheryl likes to travel and set a goal of visiting all 50 states. When she was considering visiting Nebraska the only thing she could find to do was attend the Sandhill Crane Festival, so she did....and she became a birder! She now has a life list of over 150 species. 

I really hoped to be able to show her a kettle of Broad-wings, but unfortunately it just didn't happen. I'm not sure what is going on with the BW migration at Soddy Mountain so far this fall. Hopefully they'll show up soon. It is the slowest start ever. 

Cheryl did spot an adult Bald Eagle, which was joined by another one - probably the same pair we've seen daily. We watched them soar together for quite awhile - a beautiful sight. Later on I loved her reply when I jokingly told her she needed to find a kettle. She said, "Well I found an eagle, so I have POTENTIAL!" Yes, Cheryl, you DEFINITELY have potential. It was nice to make a new birding friend and she fit right in. I hope to see her up there again.

A little later Lenny Kafka and Ruth Ann Henry arrived at the same time to help us scan the skies. Again, not many Broad-wings, but the local Red-tails were active, as were the Turkey and Black Vultures. 

I was saddened to learn that Leigh Ann, his wife if 38 years, passed away a couple of months ago after a lengthy bout with cancer. She was always a "firecracker" and will be missed by everyone who knew her from the Soddy Mountain hawkwatch.

Bill Haley

....................................................................
 

My heart breaks for Lenny. Leigh Ann has come up at least once almost every year.  We will miss her greatly!

 

Don't despair guys...

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

Was Monday Better?

Bill's report was early tonight.  There have been clouds all day.  Let's see what he says.... I haven't read it yet -

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
 Mon., Sept. 23, 2019

Time on lookout: 0930-1500 = 5.5 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather report:

0930: Clouds 80%, wind SW 1-4 mph, temp. 65F, visib. 40K, baro. 30.11. 1000: Clouds 85%, wind S 1-2. 1100: Clouds 70%, (clouds started to break up @ 1030, but are now being replaced by darker, continuous cloud cover), wind S 2-5, temp. 68F. 1200: Clouds 85%, wind SW 2-8, temp. 72F. 1300: Clouds 90%, wind SW 2-10, temp. 75F, 1400: Clouds 80%, wind SW 5-10, temp. 81.

Raptors by hour:

0930-1000: 0

1000-1100: BW 8

1100-1200: SS 1, BW 1

1200-1300: 0

1300-1400: 0

1400-1500: 0

Total raptors: SS 1, BW 9

You've heard the old saying, "You should be careful what you ask for, because you might get it." At the end of yesterday's post. I wished for clouds today. Cloud cover when I arrived was broken, with blue openings, so looked promising. Spotted the first TV's at 1038, and first BW four minutes later. Eight more in the next 19 minutes. Then the heavier cloud layer moved in and shut down what was promising to be a good flight. Only other countable hawk was a SS 50 minutes later. Nothing after 1150. While some blue showed up around 1400, it quickly filled in and didn't generate any more migrants, so I left at 1500.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley, Jr.

 

Bill will continue to man some hours this week during his vacation.  I certainly hope he gets rewarded for his efforts. 

 

He will

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

Another Southern Wind

Bill and Lou Ann Henry looked for the unexpected. 
Here's today's report -
Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report

 Sun., Sept. 22, 2019

Time on lookout: 1230-1700 = 4.5 hrs 

Counter: Bill Haley, 

Guest: Ruth Ann Henry

A word about weather: I am still without a weather radio, so no barometric or humidity readings. If I don't list something (ex. Visibility) every hour, there has been no change from previous hour(s). All times listed are military time.

Weather report: 1230: Wind S 5-12, clouds 15%, visib. 50K, temp. 80F. 1300 temp. 81F. 1400: Clouds 0, temp. 84F. 1500: Wind S 5-15. 1600: Wind SSE 2-8, temp. 89F. 

Raptors by hour:

1230-1300: 0

1300-1400: BW 3

1400-1500: 0

1500-1600: BE 1 (ad.)

1600-1700: 0

Total Raptors: BE 1, BW 3

Notable sightings:

 3 adult Bald Eagles flew over very close together at 1445, flying westward and diving on each other. A good deal of interaction. Local birds, not countable.

Hundreds of Chimney Swifts. Numbers were first noted after 1400 and continued rest of the afternoon.

Adult Bald Eagle @ 1554 was observed in distance over North ridge, in glide southward. Watched it all the way out of sight to the south. Countable bird.

Remarks: I didn't think it would be possible to have a day with fewer migrants than yesterday, but once again the hawks didn't pass by the lookout. Wind was 10 mph or better from the south all afternoon, and other than the first hour it was clear blue cloudless sky.

I enjoyed visiting with Ruth Ann Henry, and despite the lack of hawks, we had enough stories to swap that the pleasant afternoon was very enjoyable. We see her every BW season. Thanks for keeping me company Ruth Ann!

I'll be back in the morning, and am hoping to get a more favorable wind, and maybe some clouds...and Broad-wings!

Reporting: Bill Haley

 

Jimmy says that on Saturday, there were around 8900 Hawks counted on a watch in NC, between Black Mtn and Hickory NC.  There were about 2500 at Mendota Fire Tower.  The hawks are out there, but southern winds are not favorable for them to come over Soddy.  This is the week.  One day, Bill may need you - meet him there.

 

THIS IS THE WEEK TO

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

 

Never give up guys. Sorry for the slow days.

Very Slow day For Sept 21st

Soddy Mountain, TN, hawk report 

Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019

Time on lookout: 0930-1445 = 5.25 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley, 0930-1445

Guests: Bill Holt, Byron Nash 1115-1345

Weather: 0930: Wind SSE 5-10, clouds 2%, visib. 20K, temp. 68 F. 1000: Wind ESE 5-8, clouds 5% . 1100: Wind SSE 5-10, clouds 15% (very thin cirrus-type clouds, not good cumulus "hawk clouds"), visib. 35K, temp. 74 F. 1200: Clouds 20%, wind S 5-10, visib. 45K, temp. 78F. 1300: Clouds 40%, temp. 82 F, barometric pressure 30.26. 1400: Clouds 20%, wind S 8-12, temp. 87 F.

Raptors by hour:

0930-1000: BW 1

1000-1100: BW 2

1100-1200: 0

1200-1300: BW 3

1300-1400: 0

1400:1445: 0

Total raptors : BW 6

Notable sightings:

3 ad. Bald Eagles seen, including one very vocal mated pair. All local birds, not countable.

3 Red-tailed Hawks (2 ad., 1 imm.). All local birds, not countable.

Cloudless Sulphur butterflies 12

Not sure where the hawks were today, but they certainly didn't come past Soddy Mountain hawk lookout. I've never experienced such a slow Sept. 21! Unfortunately Bill Holt and his friend Byron Nash didn't get to see a single countable hawk in their time on the lookout.  Wind was fairly strong out of the south most of the day. 

Will be up there after church, about 1300 tomorrow. Hopefully the hawks will be more cooperative. 

Bill Haley Reporting!

 

Sorry Guys, about the count, and about not getting the report up this morning.  I was worried about watering some plants, and I just forgot! I'll try to be more vigilant. I've asked Jimmy to remind me.

 

We did think of you today though.  Wishing for good numbers. and a few clouds. Good luck this week.

Thanks to Bill Holt and Byron Nash for going up to support Bill!

Jimmy always called that Southern wind the kiss of death.  At least they weren't skunked for the day.

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

Bill's Hawk Watch Schedule for NEXT WEEK

Bill sent me this email, just so everyone can know in advance, his hawk watch schedule.  I certainly hope there will be some who can join him a few days or hours!! And just so you'll know, he isn't in the Aquarium vehicle you might expect. This is his new ride!

Tammy might come, but he hasn't heard from Jim Rowell who was very consistent last year.  He needs help, if you are able. Some huge numbers of BW's are already moving down through Central USA along that flight pattern.  We should expect great numbers through ours as well, if the birds don't get too high by mid-day.  MARK YOU CALENDARS!!!

"Cynthia;    

 

Attached are a few shots I took last Saturday. Note my 2019 hawk-watching vehicle, “Big Blue”, a 1995 Dodge Ram pickup with less than 82,000 miles. (Looks nice with the goldenrod in the background. LOL!)

 

I will be on vacation next week and also plan to be up there some this weekend, so here are dates and times. (Moving may lead to some minor changes, but I intend to stick to this schedule if possible). Please bear in mind that if there is a good hawk flight on any of the days Sept. 22-27, I’ll probably stay longer than the posted quitting time. Bad weather could also play a role in quitting time on any day.

 

Sat., Sept. 21: 9:30 to 2:30 or 3

Sun., Sept. 22: 1:00 to 4:00

Mon., Sept. 23: 9:30 to 4:00

Tues., Sept. 24: 9:30 to 4:00

Wed., Sept. 25: 9:30 to 4:00

Thurs., Sept. 26: 9:30 to 4:00

Fri., Sept. 27: 9:30-4:00

 

I haven’t heard a word from Jim Rowell. There is a possibility he’ll be up there too, but it may be just me. Come on up and plan to stay awhile. There may be fantastic sights to be seen!

Just a note, remember to consider it's a little bit of a hill to get up to the watch.

   

 

If you come visit the lookout, please remember to bring: wide-brimmed hat, sunblock, a folding chair to sit in, plenty to drink – (it’ll be hot and you must stay hydrated), snacks, binoculars (preferably 8X or better – not tiny little compact jobs – you need a good field of view and some of these hawks will be specks at 10X!).

 

Bill Haley "

Photos by Bill Haley

 

GET READY

 

All eyes needed to help

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!!!

2 NEW FALL 2019 REPORTS

Hi to our followers!  Thanks for keeping up with us. Bill was able to steal a little time away, and watch for raptors passing by, so here are his first 2 reports:

 

Soddy Mountain Hawk Totals: 

Sat., Sept. 14, 2019    

  0 Raptors   

 

Time on lookout: 0930-1200 = 2.5 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley (my first day on the lookout for fall 2019)

 

Weather data:

0930: Wind calm, clouds 97%, visib. 15K, temp. 75 F. No barometric pressure or humidity readings – weather radio not working.

1000: Wind N 1-2, clouds 100%, visib. 30K, temp. 79 F.

11:00: Wind S 2-3, clouds 100 %, temp. 81 F.

 

Raptors by hour:

0930-1000: 0

1000-1100: 0

1100-1200: 0

 

Total raptors: 0

 

Never even saw a vulture, due to poor weather conditions. Did have time to do some weed-eating to clear path from parking area to lookout proper, a bit around lookout and a path to the “restroom” area. Quit when I ran out of gas.

 

Notable sightings:

-          Saw 14 vintage aircraft flying E-W over north ridge, some appeared to be possible WWII “warbirds”. Possibly going to an airshow?

-          At 9:48 there were 7 Eastern Bluebirds on the wires in front of me.

-          At 11:30, two male Scarlet Tanagers (fall plumage), flew into pines near the lookout.

-          One migrant Cloudless Sulphur butterfly seen.

-           

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

 

(/All data is data, even the zero days! WCA)

...................................................................................

 

Soddy Mountain Hawk Report

 

 Wed., Sept. 18, 2019

 

Time on Lookout: 1000-1230 = 2.5 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

 

Weather:

1000: Wind E 2-5 mph, clouds 2%, visib. 15K (very hazy), temp. 79 F. (No baro or humidity reading.)

11:00: Wind ESE 5-8 mph, clouds 0, temp. 82 F.

12:00: Wind S 5-12 mph, clouds 10%, temp. 84 F.

 

Raptors by hour:

10:00: BW 14 (one kettle of 11)

1100: BW 6

1200: BE (ad) 1; SS 1; BW 3

              

 BE 1

 SS  1

 BW 23

________________

 25 total raptors.    

 

Also seen:

-          2 Red-tailed Hawks, (1 imm. 1 ad.). Both local birds and not countable.

-          Monarch – 1

 

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

 

..........................................................................

 

Bill says he has vacation real soon. I will try to get some dates up if he knows when he can go. 

Thanks for the reports, Bill.

 

Goodnight all,

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

Fall Hawk Watch Season is Officially Underway!

It's been super hot, everyone knows. It's no surprise that it would be difficult to sit out all day to watch hawks in the heat. But it is actually other things in life which sort of caused a slightly later than usual count to get underway. Many of you may know that Jimmy's health continues to limit his abilities.  If he goes to the hawk watch, it will definitely be only as he feels able, and for short periods of time. 
My own circumstances are that I am continuing to recover from a major back surgery, for which I have been under post surgery restrictions for 6 months now. Only recently have I begun to walk a little without my walker or cane.  I also cannot stay long, and would not be able to hold binoculars to the sky for very long. SOOOO...

We could not go up and get started early as we used to do.   HOWEVER!!!

Tammy King and Bill Haley have begun right on time, and are now sending reports.  Tammy went up last Sunday, and I have not been able to get up and going this week, so I will begin with her first report, and am so excited to do so. 

Bill has been moving into a new home,  and has also had some family affairs of importance to take a precedence, but has expressed that being nearer to the Hawk Watch now, he has plans to go as often as he is able.  However, it is a bit premature to expect a schedule from him.  So for now, we are operating on a posting reports as anyone is able to send them.  As soon as it changes, I will post here and on FACEBOOK, and if I know days or times, I will post them as early as I know and can let you know. 

It is no secret that birds are on the move. And only today I saw a monarch butterfly in my back yard, also on the move, so there are plenty of migrants to see.  Many sites are underway both north and south and the first Broad-wings have already passed the Texas borders moving to the Yucatan, as expected.  As always, you can visit: HAWKCOUNT.ORG for our stats, and those of all other reporting counts to them.  I will sometimes report those of other sites as well, especially when the numbers get to those amazing levels as they do every year. 

Here are the first official reports!!!

I am posting Tammy's full page report sheet for Hawk Migration Association Physical Reports. You can see that they like quite a bit of information, which, although we don't always post it, is always collected by the counters as much as possible.  Tammy being a seasoned watcher, is familiar with and used to gathering this info and reporting it.  During her time on the watch she counted our first 2 Broad-winged Hawks! Go Tammy, and thanks for sitting out that heat! 

Sunday, Sept. 8,2019
BW 2
______________
Total Raptors - 2

HAWK

MIGRATION

ASSOCIATION OF

LOCATION

Soddy Mountain, Soddy Daisy, TN

|

|

NORTH

AMERICA

OBSERVER(S)

Tami King

MO 09 DAY 08 YR 2019

ADDRESS

TIME (STD)

5-6

6-7

7-8

8-9

9-10

10-11

11-12

12-1

1-2

2-3

3-4

4-5

5-6

6-7

Wind Speed

1

1

1

1

Wind Dir. (From)

N

N

N

N

Temp. (Deg. C)

28

28

28

30

Humidity

69

65

55

49

C

Bar. Pressure

30.07

30.05

30.05

30.04

o

Cloud Cover

0

0

5

5

m

Visibility

30

30

30

30

m

Precipitation

1

1

1

1

e

Flight Direction

S

n

Height of Flight

4

t

No. of Observers

1

1

1

1

Total

s

Dur. of Obs. (min)

30

60

60

60

210

Black Vulture

BV

Turkey Vulture

TV

Osprey

OS

Swallow-tailed Kite

SK

White-tailed Kite

WK

Mississippi Kite

MK

Hook-billed Kite

HK

Bald Eagle

BE

Northern Harrier

NH

Sharp-shinned

SS

Cooper's Hawk

CH

Northern Goshawk

NG

Red-shouldered

RS

Broad-winged

2

BW

2

Short-tailed Hawk

ST

Swainson's Hawk

SW

Red-tailed Hawk

RT

Ferruginous Hawk

FH

White-tailed Hawk

WT

Zone-tailed Hawk

ZT

Harris' Hawk

HH

Rough-legged

RL

Golden Eagle

GE

American Kestrel

AK

Merlin

ML

Peregrine Falcon

PG

Gyrfalcon

GY

Prairie Falcon

PR

Crested Caracara

CC

Unid. Vulture

UV

Unid. Accipiter

UA

Unid. Buteo

UB

Unid. Eagle

UE

Unid. Falcon

UF

Unid. Raptor

UU

Other (From Back)

OO

TOTAL

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

TH

2

..........................................................................................................................
Sunday, 9/15/2019
BE  1
Harrier 1
BW  14
_______________
Total Raptors  - 16

On the next Sunday -  09/15/2019, Tammy arrived early and was joined about lunch time by Bill Haley.  They had 1 Bald Eagle, 1 Harrier, and 14 Broad-wings.  The wind was out of our favorite N to NE direction, with the migrants angling across the skies toward the S to SW directions. They saw 8 of the BWs between 2 and 3 o'clock, with the others 2 per hour. 

If you would like to help fill some hawk watch time on the site, let us know, perhaps someone can join you. But also go regardless and send us your report! 

I will get up the running totals on the side bars this week, and will make links to facebook later today, after Norton shuts me down for updates!  LOL 

It's that time again!

Time to
KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

Thanks for your continued or new interest,
Your Hawk watch friends and Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson