Jimmy and Cynthia;
I hope you are both doing well. With temperatures in the upper 70's and a brisk SSW wind, I decided to practice "social distancing", which we are all being encouraged to do because of COVID -19. I've learned the hawk lookout is a great way to stay away from crowds! I headed up there to see if any migrants would show up.
Yesterday, I was working in the yard, and I swear I heard a Broad-winged Hawk call...3 times. Despite this being earlier than I've ever known a BW to show up, I'll admit it gave this old hawk-watcher a touch of "Broad-wing fever"! Migrant BW's usually make their first appearance the last week in March or first week of April. Maybe the early warmer weather has speeded them up?
I'd decided I wouldn't bother making a report if I didn't see anything. Guess what? I saw something! So here is the first spring hawk report from Soddy Mountain in many years.
Arrived 3:15 daylight savings time. Clouds 85%, temperature 77 F, visib. 40 K, wind SSW 10-15 MPH. 4:00 clouds 45%, temp. 78F. 5:00 clouds 90%, temp. 75F. Left at 5:15, so I had 2 hours of observation.
At 4:10 I spotted an Osprey. It was already north of Soddy Lake, but since I've seen several in the past week, I thought it might be a local bird. However it continued circling and moving northward, eventually gaining significant altitude and sailing on to the north. My first countable migrant hawk of 2020!
At 4:43 I spotted a hawk shooting across the sky from a southwesterly direction on the same track springtime BW's use. At first I thought I had my first Broad-wing. However it appeared smaller and the tail looked longish. It turned out to be a Sharp-shinned Hawk. I watched it till it disappeared to the northeast.
Total: 1 OS, 1SS = 2 migrants.
Broad-winged Hawks will be coming through soon, and maybe since I'm getting an unexpected vacation, due to an Aquarium shut-down, I can be there to witness the return.
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| Notice the chair turned in the opposite direction. Picture by William G. Haley |
Attached is a photo looking southward. The cedar has gotten larger over the years, but still isn't too much of a hindrance.
Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley
What better to do than find a spot to
Keep looking UP!!!
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