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