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
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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!!!
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