October Reports Coming In ~ More Record Breaking Heat

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Thurs., Oct. 3, 2019

Time on lookout: 0900-1315 = 4.25 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

 

Weather report: 0930 Clear, wind E 1-2, visib. 30K, temp. 73F. 1000 Wind ENE 1-4, Visib. 35K, temp. 77F. 1100 Temp. 83F. 1200 Clouds 2%, wind N 2-5, temp. 88F. Wind shifted to NW 10-15 mph by 1215, 1300 Wind WNW 10-15, clouds 8%, temp. 93F.

 

Raptors by hour: 

0900-1000: SS 1, AK 1

1000-1100: SS 1

1100-1200:. 0

1200-1300: CH 1

1300-1315: 0

  

SS 2

 CH 1

 AK 1 

__________________

 Total Raptors  4 

Other sightings:

Double-crested Cormorant 2

Red-headed Woodpecker 1

Monarch butterflies -59

Cloudless Sulphur - 2

 

Things started out favorably, with 2 Sharp-shins and an American Kestrel in the first hour. Unfortunately things slowed down after that. It was exceptionally hot, with our 9th or 10th record-breaking heat day. Searching for hawks in the solid blue sky was like searching through a very large haystack hoping for an exceedingly small needle. When the wind shifted to the west and temperatures continued to rise, I had to call it a day.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

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The Xfinity filters are now putting our TOS and some TN-bird, as well as some of Bill's reports into spam.  While we are happy to have some things go to spam, we are not happy to have the things we sign up for to go to spam.  We have almost missed a few things, including this email.  I will try to stay on top of it. I already have been checking spam to see if any other reports have fallen through the cracks. So if you sent one, please email us a note. 

 

The weather continues to be suffering hot on Watchers, and sometimes very few clouds.  I researched a number of sites on Hawkcount.org , who also are experiencing lower than usual numbers.  but the trend so far, as I have downloaded charts from VA NC and a couple of other sites is that most visible countable hawks are passing through Central NC.  I haven't done a thorough research yet to make positive declarations on the matter, but in a place or two in Va, the hawk counts were highest in mid-September, rather than later in the month as we generally expect.  And those hawks were not seen again later by watches except a couple of times in Midwestern NC at places like Grandfather Mtn, Linville NC and one other. I"ll try to get some results up for everyone to see this week.  To do a good report, I probably need to compare every site I visit with last year's numbers, but I won't have time to do so.  So in general I can only compare this year's numbers.  Bill having good morning numbers could be a very good indicator that Hawks are getting way high early in the day. 

 

Thankfully, many Accipiters and hawks like Northern Harriers and Falcons seem to prefer the treetops or lower altitudes.  So he may continue to get some good looks, especially if the cool fronts really do come in and lower the temps. 

 

He isn't giving up.  He hopes to go most days this week, so if you can join him, prepare for the heat and sun!

 

It's still and exciting time to

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

C