Lots to See On the Watch!

Migrating Osprey glides in close over the pole.  Bill Haley

This is adding up to a wonderful Spring Count:

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report

Monday, April 6, 2020

Hrs. of Observation: 1000-1300 = 3 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 1000 wind NE 2-4, clouds 15%, temp. 67F, visib. 40K. 1100 wind NE 5-8, clouds 10%, temp. 72F. 1200 wind SW 2-8, clouds 45% (large puffy cumulus coming from NW, going towards SE. What we call perfect "hawk clouds". Trouble was, I wasn't seeing any hawks!). Wind was extremely variable, switching from NE to SW, and then back 5 minutes later.

Hawks by hour;

1000-1100: OS 1, BW 11

1100-1200: OS 1, BE (imm.) I

1200-1300: BW 1

Total hawks: OS 2, BE 1, BW 12 = 15 total

First BW's seem today were small kettles of 4 and 3. Both seen to the north of the lookout.

Other observations:

- Chimney Swift, first of year

- Double-crested Cormorant 15

- Monarch, female, looking for milkweed to lay eggs. 2nd I've seen on lookout so far this spring.

Addendum to 4-5-20: Yesterday I heard several Prairie Warblers. First of year. Forgot to mention on my write-up.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley"

On the watch, you can listen for the Warbler calls while you 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

Broad-wings Take the Prize

It is so exciting to see the Spring numbers showing the hawks returning every day. Palm Sunday on the Hawk Watch, was a blessing.
"'Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Hrs. of observation: 1000-1500 = 5.0 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 1000 wind ENE 2-5, clouds 10%, temp. 68F, visib. 45 K. 1100 clouds 5%, temp. 72F. 1200 clouds 1%, temp. 75F. 1300 wind switching from NE to W 5-10, (swapping back and forth last 15-20 minutes), clouds 25%, temp. 78F. 1400 wind SW 5-12, clouds 40%, temp. 81F.

Hawks by hour:

1000-1100: OS 1, BW 14

1100-1200: CH 1, BW 6

1200-1300: CH 2, BW 3

1300-1400: BE (imm.), SS 1, BW 2

1400-1500: SS 1

Totals: OS 1, BE 1, SS 1, CH 3, BW 25

Total hawks: 31

The first hour, all BW's were low and easy to see. By 1130 the thermals were heating up. Warm columns of air go up...way up. The hawks that rely on those thermals go way, way up too. 

When noon rolled around I was having flashbacks to September. Hot sun and solid blue skies and with no clouds is torture for a hawk-watcher. Probably heaven for the hawks. You know the Broad-wings are up there somewhere, but you can no longer find them. Still I occasionally managed to squeeze a hawk out of the sky. 

By 1500, the hot sun with no shade got to be too much and I decided to call it a day. Guess I'm getting soft at 66 3/4 years old!

I'm saving myself to get back up there again tomorrow.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley"

All before the sun warmed up the air that lifts them so high!  Get out a little early so you too can 

find some spring Hawks returning, if you

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

C

Broad-winged Hawks Making A Showing!

Bill called us from the watch this morning to share he was seeing his very first BW of the day.  They are moving north, and are easier to see than on many of the Fall days when they moved south.

Bill hated to lose the counts for the midday hours, so he will go up all day on Sunday.

Today's report: Blog #320 :)

"Soddy Mountain, TN Hawk Report

Sat., April 4, 2020

Hrs. of coverage: 1000-1115, 1645-1745

= 2.25 hours

Weather: 

1000 wind E 3-5, clouds 75%, temp. 64F, visib. 55K. 1100 wind ESE 5-10, clouds 50%, temp. 68F.

1645-1745 wind NE 5-8, clouds 40%, temp. 77F, visib 60K.

Hawks by hour:

1000-1100: OS 1, BW 5

1100-1115: SS 1

1645-1700: BW 1

1700-1745: OS 1, SS 1, BW 2

Totals: OS 2, SS 2, BW 8 = 12 total

The first five Broad-wings of the day came low down the ridge, a couple only clearing the pole and wires by 20-30 feet. When I went back to the lookout this afternoon, they were higher. One was a true "speck bird", flying so high I thought it would disappear in a cloud!

I am certain many hawks were missed in the middle of the day. Unfortunately I had a NABA butterfly count scheduled today too. It was a day of counting hawks early and late, with 4 hours of butterflies sandwiched in between. It is tough when two citizen science projects coincide!

Plan to spend much of the day there tomorrow, weather permitting.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley"

How cool is this that Bill has time to spend some spring Migration hours where he is able to encourage us in more ways than one to

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

C

Two Posts in ONE and A Blessing!

Today we are helping Bill get counts caught up.  So be sure to read down to the second post!!! Jimmy dislikes it when I post them backwards in time. LOL

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report

April 2, 2020

Hrs. of observation: 1130-1400 = 2.5 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 1130 wind NE 5-10, clouds 15%, temp. 55 F, visib. 45K. 1200 wind NE 3-8, clouds 25%, temp. 58F. 1300 clouds 10%, temp. 62 F.

0 countable hawks!

I hoped to see the first. Broad-winged Hawks of the spring, but they aren't quite here. Still waiting!

Reporting; William G. (Bill) Haley"

Next day:

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report

Fri., April 3, 2020

Hrs. of observation: 1230-1700 = 4.5 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 1230 wind E 3-5, clear, temp. ,62F, visib. 55K. 1300 temp. 65F. 1400 wind ESE 3-5, temp 67F. 1500 wind E 3-5, clouds 5%, temp. 69F. 1600 clouds 25%, temp. 71F. Clouds 50% when I left at 1700.

Hawks by hr.:

1230-1300  - RT 1

1300-1400 - OS 1

1400-1500 - BE (imm, 2nd yr), OS 1, CH 1, BW 4

1500-1600 - BW 4, AK 1

1600-1700 - NH 1, SS 1, BW 6

Total Hawks:

RT 1, OS 2, BE 1, NH 1, SS 1, CH 2, BW 14

22 total Hawks

Finally!!! At 2:01 E. Daylight Savings Time, I spotted a hawk sailing directly towards me and thought it might be interesting. It was! It began circling directly overhead, not too far up. A beautiful adult Broad-winged Hawk, the first of 2020. This is what I've been waiting for. 14 total isn't bad for their first day back at Soddy Mountain. I even had one kettle...of 3.

I think this might be the best mixed bag of hawk species I've ever seen in the spring! Also added one other surprise - a Common Loon!

Reporting: William G." 

I saw reports elsewhere across the state of the FOY Broadies, so they are returning in numbers.  And that's a cool thing in spring!

Many are recognizing their high pitched calls. If you have never heard this call, take a minute to google it, You will not forget it, and maybe it will be the reason you take a moment in Spring to-

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

C

Beautiful Days, Perfect for Hawk Watch

Jimmy and Cynthia;

I have some catching up to do. I thought I'd sent this one and I guess I didn't.

Soddy Mountain hawk report, 3-29-20

Hrs. of observation: 1100-1315 = 2.25 hr

Observer: Bill Haley

Weather: 1100 wind W 10-20, clouds 25%, temp. 69F, visib. 60K. 12:00 clouds 40%, temp. 71F. 1:00 clouds 50%, temp. 73F.

Hawks by hour:

1100-1200 - NH 1

1200-1300 - 0

1300-1315 - 0

Total: NH 1

Other observations: Several Tree Swallows and one Purple Marten, Great Blue Heron, pair of local Red-shouldered Hawks. 1 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley