BEST DAY EVER FOR BILL AND TAMI ON THE SODDY DAISY WATCH I've long wished Bill Haley could have one of the super days on the Lookout like some Jimmy, Harold, Bill Holt and ohters with us had in years gone by when Bill could not be up with usl Well, today was his day! this is todays report: " Today was THE DAY I have been waiting for. Best day of Broad-wing hawkwatching this fall, or any of my previous 26 years at Soddy Mountain Hawkwatch. There to share the excitement were Tami King, Susan and Gray Carter. The Carter's, from Russellville, AL, camped last night and came back for another day. They are glad they did. Lookout was covered for 7.5 hours, from 10:00-5:30. Final totals: Bald Eagle - 3 adults Sharp-shinned - 2 Cooper's - 3 Broad-winged- 4,066. Highlight was an awesome river of 2,812 Broad-wings at 1:16. By far the most hawks I've ever seen at one time. They just kept coming! You could look back along their path and the stream was 15-20 birds wide as far as you could see. It was an unforgettable experience. I'd just told the Carter's the thing that keeps me coming back each year is knowing what's possible. Now they understand what I meant! Other notable groups were 55, 73, 134, 237, 231, 81 and 119. The 1:00 hour we had 2,990 BW; 2:00 hr we had 724. Susan and Fray had to leave at 3:00. After they left, Tami and I spotted another 179 Broad-wings in the 3:00 and 4:00 hours. Yep, it was a great day on the lookout! Bill P.S. this is not our all-time daily BW record. Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson had one almost 5,000 day several years back" I am so Glad Tami and The Carters were there to help! And so excited for them. What a marvelous day! This is traditionally the week, that if the weather has birds backed up, and the air is cool enough that the hawks don't get too high to see. We were expecting at least one good day. Tomorrow could be good too. I certainly hope so. I've had a little difficulty posting his other numbers, but here is his Sept 19 totals as well.: "Soddy Mountain hawk report Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020 Duration: 0900-1630 = 7.5 hr. Counters: Bill Haley, Tammy King, Fray Carter, Susan Carter Weather: wind NE 5-10 mph most of day, decreasing to 2-5 mph after 1400, clouds 100% all day, temperature 63-76 F, visibility 15K in morning to 40k in afternoon. Raptors by hour: 0900-1000: 0 1000-1100: 1 SS, 11 BW 1100-1200: 14 BW 1200-1300: 13 BW 1300-1400: 0 1400-1500: 31 BW 1500-1600: 32 BW 1600-1630: 0 TOTAL: 1 SS, 101 BW = 102 Other sightings: Red-breasted Nuthatch (1) Local birds (non-countable): Bald Eagle (2 ad., 1 imm.), Red-shouldered Hawk (4), Red-tailed Hawk (1), Cooper's Hawk (1). Monarch butterfly (1) Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley" Congrats!!!! Bill and Tami and crew.