Holiday Flights

We've been a little busy with cooking and enjoying family this holiday, but are excited to post 2 reports for Bill who had a little time to sneak up to the hill.  The first is for Wednesday, and the second is for Thanksgiving Thursday. Hope all of you had a wonderful Day!

"Soddy Mountain TN hawk report,
 Wed., Nov. 27, 2019

Time on lookout: 1100-1400 = 3 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 1100 Clouds 85%, (thin, sun shining through), wind W 5-10, gusting to 20+, visib. 35K, temp. 60F. 1200 Clouds 65%, wins SSE 10-15, visib. 60K, temp. 61 F. 1300 Clouds 50%, temp. 63F.

Raptors by hour:

1100-1200: 0

1200-1300: TV 9, NH 1

1300-1400: 0

Total:

 TV 9,

 NH 1

__________

 10 total raptors

Winds were very strong out of the W and SSW. Historically, winds from these directions are terrible for hawk counting at Soddy Mountain and produce very poor numbers. The local vultures and Red-tails had a ball playing in the stiff winds.

When I despaired of seeing a countable hawk, a female Northern Harrier skimmed over the western side of the north ridge and continued SW along Jones Gap, taking what we used to jokingly call the "Jim Rowell memorial flyway". I only had it in sight for a few seconds before it disappeared behind the pines. It always aggravated Jim that many hawks choose this route, which must be extremely obvious from the air, instead of flying on down the ridge past us. The Harrier was probably just trying to stay low and out of the strong west winds.

Other sightings: 

Great Blue Heron (1) @ 1253 ( first I've seen from the lookout this fall.)

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley"

 

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

 

My Mountain, TN hawk report

Thurs., Nov. 28, 2019

Time on lookout: 0915-1200 = 2.75 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 0915 Clear, wind NE 2-8, visib. 70K, temp. 41F. 1000 Clouds 3%, temp. 43F. 1100 Clouds 5%, wind NE 1-3, temp. 47F.

Raptors by hour:

0915-1000: TV 5

1000-1100: RT 2

1100-1200: RS 1

Total:

 TV 5

 RS 1

 RT 2

____________ 

 8 total raptors

Every day on the lookout is different and you never know what you might see. I witnessed a beautiful sight today. While watching a pair of local Red-tailed Hawks soar together near the lookout, they locked talons, and holding together by only one foot they dropped for 4-5 seconds, spiraling and spinning with wings spread before they parted. I had not seen this before. It was a perfect aerial ballet and a great Thanksgiving day present.

It points out how close we are to the end of hawk migration season and how close it is to breeding season. This pair is bonded and they will be on a nest in only 2-3 months.

Other sightings:

- Sandhill Cranes 86

- American Robin 84

- Cedar Waxwing 30

- Hermit Thrush 1 heard at south end of lookout (near a good crop of privet berries, their favorite winter snack). First I've heard this fall.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

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

 

 I love winter birding. But it isn't so much about looking up as with counting the migrants.  So when you are searching the rivers and bushes for your winter faves, don't forget occasionally to

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!
C
 

 

The First Black Vulture Kettles of the year

Bill has only a few more chances this season.
Here's the post -

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report, Mon., Nov. 25, 2019

Time on lookout: 1215-1600 = 3.75 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: Clear all afternoon, 1215 wind SSE 5-10, visib. 20K, temp. 51 F. 1300 wind calm, temp. 55F. 1400 wind E 1-4, temp. 58F. 1500 wind calm, visib. 60K, temp. 60F.

Raptors by hour:

1215-1300: BV 27, RS 1, RT 1

1300-1400: BV 9, RT 2

1400-1500: BV 6, CH 1

1500-1600: 0

Total raptors: BV 42, CH 1, RS 1, RT 3

Total: 47 raptors

Counted the first Black Vultures of the fall. They are always problematic, as they are kind of all over the place, and we see them every day. I strive to only count groups moving southward and not the many locals. A kettle of 27 at 1255 was hard to ignore, and they all sailed south together. The others counted were all in groups as well.

I hope to spend some time on the lookout the next couple of days, but it'll be later in the afternoon tomorrow. On Wednesday rain is predicted in the afternoon, so maybe I can catch a break that morning. Some major rain events, possibly continuing through the weekend, may put an end to fall season 2019. 

Other sightings: Sandhill Cranes 64.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

__________________________________________

Everyone have the very best THANKSGIVING.   This year we are Thankful for Bill, for way more reasons than one.  May all of you be blessed!!!

and if you get a chance....

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

Red-tails Continue to Make Obvious Moves to the South

It's so much fun to finally see Red-tails in migratory mode, rather than having to discount them as locals. I wish I was with Bill as he is now able to count them. New to the board as of the last few counts are the Red-shouldered Hawks.  I can attest to having one gorgeous RT camp out in my yard recently. I could only wonder if he was a migrant.  These late season birds bring our all time counts to 91,967 raptors.

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
 Sun., Nov. 17, 2019 

Time on lookout: 1230-1600 = 3.5 hr. 

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 1230 Clouds 50%, (thin cirrus), wind E 1-3, visib. 50K, temp. 57F. 1300 Clouds 60%, temp. 58F. 1400 Clouds 75% (much heavier cloud layer than earlier thin cirrus), wind calm, temp. 59F. 1500 Clouds 60%, temp. 61 F.

Raptors by hour:

1230-1300: RS 1, RT 1

1300-1400: SS 2, RT 2

1400-1500: RT 1

1500-1600: 0

Total:

SS 2,

RS 1,

 RT 4 

_____________

7 total hawks

The flight was promising with ample sunshine through thin cirrus clouds until a heavier cloud layer moved in shortly after 1400, and unfortunately brought the flight to a halt. Even with some clearing after 1515, migrants were through for the day.

Other sightings:

Cedar Waxwing 144

Buck Moth 1

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

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

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

c

Biggest Day of the 2019 Fall Season!!!

Bill was only able to spend a short time on the lookout and had the following results. Is there anyone who can go up on Sunday??????  The count should be great.

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Friday,  11-15-19

Time on lookout: 1100-1300

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 1100 Clouds 75%, wind NE 5-12, visib. 50 K, temp  39%. 1200 Clouds 65%, temp. 44K.

Raptors by hour:

1100-1200: TV 104, CH 1, RS 1, RT 1

1200-1300: TV100, BE 1, SS 1, CH 1, RS 1, RT 10

Totals

TV 201

BE     1

SS      1

CH     2

RS      2

RT    11

___________________

221 TOTAL RAPTORS 

I debated going to the lookout, as I only had an hour to spare before I was due to go out of town. However, the flight was so good that I stayed an extra hour. I wish I'd had the whole day, as I had my best day of 2019, in two hours!

Turned out this is the day many hawks and vultures displaced by the bad weather up north finally made it to Soddy Mountain, TN.

Almost as soon as I walked on the lookout the Turkey Vultures showed up in big kettles, with more streaming in from the distance. In the first 20 minutes 99 streamed through. Largest groups were 45 @ 1112 and 54 @ 1208.

Red-tails were also moving well, with 10 counted after 1200. Glad I stayed that extra hour! I can only speculate what came through after I had to leave, but I suspect the numbers could have been considerable.

I often preach about the conditions that could lead to a big hawk flight, and they've all been in play the last couple of days. Unfortunately it seems nobody really listens, so they miss red letter days like today.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) "

 

CALLING for Hawkwatchers who can

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!!

c

Cold Front Passes, New Push of Migrants

A nice round number for the Thursday Count, most of the birds were moving after lunch. So many Robins! Kettles of Vultures on the move.
Here's Bill's report:


Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019 

Time on lookout: 0945-1545 = 6.0 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 0945 Clouds 50%, wind calm, visib. 45K, temp. 36F. 1100 Clouds 35%, wind NE 1-3,, temp. 41F. 1200 Clouds 20%, temp. 46F. 1300 Clouds 60%, visib. 60K, temp. 48F. 1400 Clouds 35%, wind E 1-4, temp 51F. 1500 Clouds 30%, temp. 52F.

Raptors by hour:

0945-1000: 0

1000-1100: RT 1

1100-1200: 0

1200-1300: TV 9, CH 1, RT 2

1300-1400: TV 146, RS 1

1400-1500: TV 36, SS 1, RT 2

1500-1545: RS 1

Totals: 

TV  191

SS      1

CH     1

RS      2

RT      5

________________ 

Total Raptors - 200

Turkey Vultures stole the show today. Between 1315-1322, kettles of 58, 65 and 18 sailed south.  

Other sightings:

- American Robin 455

- Sandhill Crane 49

- Cedar Waxwing 327

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

 

 

Today was a good day to

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

C

Gray Ghosts Arrive

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Wed., Nov. 13, 2019

Time on lookout: 1200-1600 = 4.0 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 1200 Clear, wind NE 2-5, visib. 65K, temp. 35F. 1300 temp. 39F. 1400 wind E 1-3, temp. 42F. 1500 major wind shift to SW 2-5, temp. 45F.

Raptors by hour:

1200-1300: NH 1 (ad. male), RS 2, RT 1

1300-1400: BE 2 (both ad.)

1400-1500: RT 2

1500-1600: TV 9, NH 2 (came through together, 1 ad. male, 1 imm.), RT 1 

TV  9

NH  3

BE   2

RS   2

RT  4

_____________

Total Raptors  - 20

After our first major cold front, with temperatures in the 20's and major winter conditions to our north, I was excited to see what might come down the ridge. I had some business to take care of this morning, so couldn't get to the lookout till noon. 

My first two migrants of the day were Red-shouldered Hawks, @ 1243 and 1250, my first this fall. 

At the same time as the second RS came through, a Northern Harrier came over the north ridge. It proved to be my first adult male "gray ghost" this fall! As it wheeled directly over the lookout, the bright white underside with wings tipped in ink black was a magnificent sight! 

Northern Harriers are one of my favorites and I often think back to well-known author and hawkwatcher extraordinaire, Pete Dunne, who visited Soddy Mountain lookout 20 years ago. (One of our claims to fame.) He admitted they were one of his favorite raptors as well. When I told him we had far fewer hawks than his beloved Cape May, I liked his reply. Pete said "You have the luxury to savor each hawk that comes past". And he was right. I savored that first gray ghost. What a sight!

Little could I have guessed a bigger Northern Harrier surprise would come at 1514, when a pair of Harriers skimmed over the north ridge together. Another gray ghost and an immature female soared together, and sailed on down the ridge, sometimes just feet apart! Two gray ghosts in one day! 

How did I know the other bird was an immature? Again I channeled Pete Dunne, who'd suggested a good field mark that I've remembered all these years. "Immatures have dirty armpits". And this one definitely did.

While I had two adult Bald Eagles, one of which sailed directly overhead and the other passed down the valley below my perch, the "gray ghost day" will be what I most remember.

Clouds are predicted tomorrow, but I'm still planning to go up and see what else might be moving south. Hopefully it won't completely shut the flight down.

Other sightings:

- Sandhill Crane: 91 (60 in 3 V's @ 1333)

-Eastern Bluebird: 12 on wires at North end of lookout @ 1300. There may be many more soon as northern migrants arrive.

- Cedar Waxwing: 70 (5 flocks)

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

 

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

C

Hawks Continue to Fly

Lately, if Bill only spends a few hours, his hawk count is successful.  It's because the steady migration of hawks expected to come this time of year is just that.  So much is said about the September hawks, and the big kettle numbers of Broad-wings on occasion, that the other months are sometimes forgotten.  Bill stays constant in his efforts to put in a few hours any day possible, even into November or early December, because he has always contended that hawk watching is a sport that covers several months, not just September.  It is kind of nice this year to be lacking in the big kettles of Broad-wings, just to see what the count looks like without them with only the effort that one man is able to put into this count.  Those numbers are remarkable, now.  Imagine what full coverage beginning in August until early December might reveal? 

In the morning snow this morning,  a large adult Red-shouldered Hawk sat on the wires running from our house out to the pole, with it's feathers puffed out so much he looked huggable. LOL I hope he didn't eat my chipmunk.  But there were no foraging small birds the whole time.  We are unable to keep up bird feeders right now, so it wasn't there because we have lots of little birds foraging the ground anymore.  But maybe one day in a past year, there was.  I looked at him and wondered how many years he had made a migration trek, and was he possibly on one now. Or had he arrived from the north recently?  Most of our locals have left or will be soon. Some may stay and defend territory from Northern migrants moving from the extremes. But stop and think when you see hawks these days.  Are you here til spring? Or are you moving on? Bid them well, because you may never know how far they've come or how far they may go. Enjoy them while they are here. Maybe they've passed this way before, or maybe this is the first time they are hunting in your yard.  Every living thing out there, would like a nice warm meal before hunkering down for a night like tonight.  20 degrees, I am glad those fluffy feathers looked like a warm coat.  I hope it is very warm. Good luck guy!

Here's Bill's report for Monday.

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Monday, Nov. 11, 2019

Time on lookout: 0945-1115 = 1.5 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 0945 Clouds 15%, wind ESE 2-5, visib. 40K, temp. 51 F. 1100 Clouds 45%, wind S 5-10, temp. 55F. (Clouds increased to 80% by 1115.)

Raptors by hour:

0945-1000: 0

1000-1100: NH 1, SS 1, RT 1

1100-1115: RT 1

NH 1

SS 1

RT 2

______________

Total Raptors: 4

Other sightings: 

- Sandhill Crane (15) 1055

- American Robin (62) flocks of 19, 27 & 25.

- Cedar Waxwing (87), flocks of 28, 20, 15, 17 & 7. This is the first day I've seen Cedar Waxwings in the large red cedar at the south end of the lookout. Two flocks (27) landed and gorged on the numerous cedar berries. It is amazing they know a very hard freeze is coming tonight! Temperatures are predicted in the 20's, and they are preparing.

- Gulf Fritillary butterfly (1)

- Common Buckeye butterfly (3)

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

Sunday Results- Harriers Don't Fail

In 4 hours on Sunday afternoon, Bill pulled out yet another Northern Harrier, staying true to it's normal migration period.  I've read reports from across the state of Harriers this year, with is always good to hear.  Sandhill Crane numbers are on the rise everywhere as well.  All is well.

Welcome to the Baldwins, hope you enjoyed your visit!

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Sun., Nov. 10, 2019 

Time on lookout: 1230-1630= 4 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

Visitors:Tim & Barb Baldwin

Weather:

12:30-1630 Clear, wind SSE 2-5, temp. 54-65, visib. 60K.

Raptors by hour:

1230-1300: RT 1

1300-1400:NH 1, RT 1

1400-1500: BE 1 (ad.)

1500-1600: TV 20, SS 1

TV 20

 BE 1

NH 1

SS 1

RT 2

__________

total raptors - 25 

Also seen:

Sandhill Crane 6

Buck moth 1

Reporting: William G. (Bill)

 

 

REMEMBER -  KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

 

C

A Great Variety of Hawks

A little chilly these days on the mountain, but a great day of birding to be had. Bill sent his early November  report, reminding us there are still migrants on the move this time of year, especially as the cold sets in.

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Sat., Nov. 9, 2019

Time on lookout: 1000-1500 = 5.0 hr 

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 

1000: Clear, wind SE 2-10, visib. 60K, temp. 38F. 1100: Clouds 1%, wind SE 5-10, temp. 42F. 1200: temp. 45F. 

1300: Clouds 5%, wind SE 2-5, temp. 49F.

1400: Clouds 10%, temp. 54F.

Raptors by hour:

1000-1100: TV 12, CH 2

1100-1200: 0

1200-1300: NH 1, RT 1

1300-1400: TV 35, RT 2

1400-1500: TV 4, NH 1, SS 2, RT 2

Totals: 

TV 51

 NH 2

 SS 2

 CH 2

 RT 5

_____________

 62 Total Raptors

- Largest group of TV's (28) at 1316.

- Both Northern Harriers were females.

- Cooper's Hawk at 1028 had some sport with an unlucky Black Vulture, diving on it and forcing evasive actions.

- First Sandhill Cranes of the fall (2) @ 1035.

- American Robin: 130  (7 flocks over the course of the day. Largest 32 @ 1016).

- Cedar Waxwing: 68 (5 flocks over the course of the day, largest 25 @ 1115.

- Gulf Fritillary (1) @ 1355. Only butterfly today.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley 

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Thanks Bill

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!!