Life Gets in the Way....LOL

Two notes from Bill....every report counts.

Sunday's a no go:
"Cloudy weather after church meant grocery shopping and painting at the new place. (I would have rather been on the hawk lookout, as I'm starting to hate paint!) By the time there was some clearing, I couldn't figure out a way to get out of "paint detail". It was later in the afternoon anyway, so I'll have to hope for better luck tomorrow or Tuesday. I will only get to spend a partial day up there on Wednesday, and then back to work Thursday.

Bill"

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"Soddy Mountain, TN, hawk report

Tues., Oct. 8, 2019

Time on lookout: 0945-1500 = 5.25 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 0945 Clouds 100%, wind NE 2-8, visib. 45K, temp. 65F, (some sun poking through to East of TN River). 1100 Clouds 98%, wind ENE 2-5, visib. 50K, temp. 68F. 1200 Clouds 95%, wind ENE 2-10, visib. 65K, temp. 72F. 1300 Clouds 75%, temp. 76F. 1400 Clouds 35%, wind ENE 2-5, temp. 79F.

Raptors by hour:

0945-1000: BE (ad.) 1

1000-1100: 0

1100-1200: SS 1

1200-1300: SS 1

1300-1400: BW 1

1400-1500: 0

 

 BE  1

SS 2

BW 1 

____________

Total raptors : 4 

While I could see some sun a few miles to the east most of the day, it was completely socked in at the lookout until almost 1400. Even with clearing, no migrant raptors to count. It was nice to see a late Broad-wing, which showed up near the beginning of cloud break-up.

Monarch butterfly - 7

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley"

 

We appreciate you, Bill.

I for one don't mind that Bill is able to sometimes put getting his new abode in order....It's been a difficult Hawk count this year.  Proud of every number... many days there would be no numbers without his data.  As hawk watchers we all know there are days, sometimes many days, that the results are low. This year, it's been the norm,  but there is one more BE and one more BW that tell us they are still moving...on this date, on this year.  And weather has played an enormous roll in the count.  This dry heat has just made a change somehow in what is passing over the mountain, along the ridge, low enough to see. We have limitations and nature puts a damper on things sometimes.  That is data! It's a record.  And though seeing hawks is much more fun, it is the data after all that we have been  trying to record. Maybe this will be our record setting new low year.  It will definitely be the hottest up 'til now.  I am just sorry we are having to leave it all to Bill.  Thank you so much for your dedication.

For today, our tag line is more of an encouragement than a directive.....

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!