October Is Closing With Cool Winds

Bill's numbers continue to rise, crossing 5000 Raptors for the season of 2020.

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

October 23 through 26 ~ Bringing on the Eagles and Harriers this week

Thanks to the visitors to the Hawk Watch...... October has a few more days, but will the Hurricane coming off the Gulf of Mexico bring some rain to interrupt watch skies?.... We'll see. Bill's last FEW reports: {OCT 24 NO COUNT CONDUCTED}

Keep Looking Up!!!!

PUTTING UP OCT 20 THRU 22

Very few clouds in blue skies lately, buy beautiful weather.

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

Past Half of October, Up 411 Hawks Before today

Bill reports for Monday and includes a key to the abreviations of Hawks in all reports. Find this on the Species Key page of the Blog any time: SPECIES KEY

Half Month Chart Shows the Data

I am posting the Chart from Hawkcount.org which makes the breakdowns for October and totals for Sept. clear. kEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

KEE

SUNDAY CATCHING UP, WELCOME TO GUESTS

SATURDAY ~ FLIGHTS CONTINUE TO BLESS

FRIDAY FRIENDS FROM MURPHY NC

STARTING THE DAY WITH MERLIN, FALCON, EAGLE!

After Voting Report

Eagle Count Caps the Day

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report Tues., Oct. 13, 2020............. Duration: 0900-1600 = 7.0 hrs. Counter: Bill Haley ......... Weather: 0900 clouds 15%, wind N 5-10, temp. 56F, visib. 60K; 1000 clouds 100%, (cloud bank closed in from the east, which is unusual), wind N 1-4; 1100 clouds 85% and breaking up, wind SE 1-4, temp. 62F; 1200 clouds 5%, wind NE 2-5, temp. 65F, visib. 70K; 1300 clear, wind SE 1-3, temp. 69F; 1400 wind NE 2-5, temp. 72F; 1500 wind NE 5-10, temp. 74F. Raptors by hour: 0900-1000: SS 1 1000-1100: BE 1, SS 1, CH 1 1100-1200: TV 23, BE 2, SS 2, CH 1 1200-1300: OS 1, SS 3, CH 2, BW 1, RT 1, AK 1 1300-1400: BE 5, SS 1 1400-1500: CH 1 1500-1600: 0 TOTALS = 46 total raptors... TV 23, BE 8, OS 1, SS 7, CH 4, BW 1, RT 1, AK 1 ............. Today seemed to be a tipping point. Do the raptors somehow know it'll be getting much colder by Friday? I was somewhat surprised to see a kettle of Turkey Vultures, which streamed southward down the valley. They are early. It was certainly a Bald Eagle day, with 1 immature and 7 adults passing the lookout. At one point I was watching a Sharp-shinned Hawk when it was joined by a Bald Eagle, then another, and another, and finally by a fourth eagle - all in the same binocular view! While watching the eagles, I also saw an American Kestrel and another sharpie. All went south. At another moment I had a Sharp-shin followed by a Bald Eagle, followed by a Cooper's Hawk. In the interest of full disclosure, I should add there can be long, boring times between such excitement.... Also seen: 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches in pines at edge of bluff. 9 Monarchs and 1 Mourning Cloak butterfly - the first I've seen all year. ..... Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley... KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

When Huricane Delta Passed...

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report Mon., Oct. 12, 2020............. Duration: 1000--1700 = 7.0 hrs. Counter: Bill HaleY.......... Weather: 1000 clouds 100%, light misty rain falling, wind calm, temp. 66F, visib. less than 1K; 1100 clouds 80%, window NNW 5-10, temp.69F, visib. 35 K; 1200 wind W 5-10, clouds 85%, temp. 72F; 1300 wind NNW 5-10, temp. 75F, visib 70K; 1400 clouds 65%, temp. 77F; 1500 clouds 30%, temp. 79F; 1600 clouds 20%, temp. 81F. Hawks by hour: 1000-1100: SS 1, PG 1 1100-1200: SS 5, PG 1 1200-1300: SS 6 1300-1400: 0 1400-1500: SS 1 1500-1600: BE 2, SS 3 1600-1700: BE 1, AK 1, ML 1 Totals: BE 3, SS 16, AK 1, ML 1, PG 2 Total raptors: 23.......... Highlights; At 1110, I had 5 Sharp-shins in view at the same time. It gave me hope for a great day, but a heavy flight never developed. Around 1620 I had soaring Merlin and American Kestrel in my binocular view. Great comparison of wing shapes and dark Merlin vs light American Kestrel................ Other migrants: Blue Jay: 62 Monarch butterfly 59 .................. Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley.......... KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!!!!!!

Oct 7 2020 Looking into so distant smoke -

Bill is beginning to see an upturn in Accipiters as expected... Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report, Wed., Oct. 7, 2020: Duration: 1000-1600 = 6.0 hr. Counter: Bill Haley Weather: Clear all day; Wind ESE 1-3, very light all day with some calm periods; temperature 60-83F; visibility 0930 25K, increasing to 40K @ 1200. Haze over the valley all day, caused by a large fire across the Tennessee River in the Hwy. 60 area, a little east of Blythe Ferry Wildlife Mgmt. Area. Hawks by hour; 1000-1100: 0 1100-1200: OS 1, SS 6, BW 2 1200-1300: SS 2 1300-1400: SS 1 1400-1500: SS 3, CH 1 1500-1600: 0 Totals: OS 1, SS 12, CH 1, BW 2 = 16 total raptors Migrant Butterflies: Monarch 18, Cloudless Sulphur 30 There were many periods today when the wind was calm, and even when a wind could be felt, it was very light. Sky was clear blue all day long. No clouds at all. These two factors made for a relatively poor hawk flight. Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley ......KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

JPG OF OCT 5 2020 REPORT IF IT WILL POST

OCT 5 2020.....CLICK ON THE REPORT TO READ IT MORE CLEARLY. IT POSTS, BUT ADJUSTING THE SIZE OF A JPG MAKES IS SLIGHTLY BLURRY. IN FUTURE REPORTS, I WILL TRY TO UPDATE THE GRAND TOTALS PERIODICALLY SINCE I CAN'T DO IT ON THE SIGE BAR.

ATTEMPTING TO UPLOAD A PICTURE OF HAWKCOUNT.ORG FOR SEPT

DAY 4 OF OCTOBER, BLUE SKIES AND GENTLE WINDS

These days are gorgeous!!! But blue skies aren't the best for high hawks to make their mark on the count. BWs are almost done, but the Sharpies and Coopers are skooting through if you catch them. Bill's report:..... "Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020 ... Duration: 1100-1600 = 5.0 hrs. Counters: Bill Haley, 1100-1600 Tammy and Phil Devine, 1100-1300... A nice couple from Clarksville, Tammy and Phil Devine, joined me from 1100 to 1300. Tammy is an experienced birder, originally from Chicago. While living there she visited a number of hawk lookouts around the Great Lakes, such as Hawk Ridge in Duluth, MN and Holiday Beach in Ontario, as well as Hawk Mountain, PA. She wanted to see a Sharp-shinned Hawk and a Broad-winged Hawk. She got to see 3 Sharpies, a Cooper's and an American Kestrel. No Broad-winged seen. They had to leave at 1300. Wouldn't you know it? Less than 10 minutes after they left, a Broad-wing glided in and soared near the lookout. Six more were seen in the next 50 minutes. That's the way it goes sometimes..... Weather: 1100 clouds 5%, 1200 clouds10%, 1300 clouds 40%, after 1400 clouds 15%; 1100 wind SE 2-8, 1200 wind SE 2-8, 1500 wind SE 2-8. Temperature 60-74F; visibility 50-60K..... Hawks by the hour: 1100-1200: SS 2, AK 1 1200-1300: SS 1, CH 1 1300-1400: BW 2 1400-1500: SS 1, BW 5 1500-1600: SS 3 Total: SS 7, CH 1, BW 7, AK 1 = 16 ...... Reporting, : William G. (Bill) Haley" ......KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!..... C

First 3 Days of October 2020

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report Thurs., Oct. 1, 2020 .... Duration: 0930-1630 = 7.0 hr. Counter: Bill Haley ... Weather: Clear, up to 1200 clouds 2%, 1300 clouds 5%, 1400 clouds 20%, temperature 57-75F, wind calm till 1100, then NW 2-10, with occasional gusts up to 15 mph for rest of the day until 1500, when it went to 3-8 mph, visibility 65K all day.... When the wind became strong from the NW around 1100, it closed down a promising start to the hawk flight. NW winds push hawks off the ridge and out over the valley. Several of the sharpies were seen far away from the ridge, going down the valley. The flight picked up a bit after 1500 when the wind quieted a little..... Hawks by hour: 0930-1000: SS 1 1000-1100: SS 1, CH 1, BW 4 1100-1200: 0 1200-1300: 0 1300-1400: SS 1 1400-1500: SS 2 1500-1600: SS 1, BW 4, RS 1 1600-1630: SS 1, BW 1 Totals: SS 7, CH 1, BW 9, RS 1 Total raptors: 18.... Other sightings: Red-breasted Nuthatch, Monarch butterfly 28.... Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley.... ____________________________ Soddy Mountain, TN hawk repoFri., Oct. 2, 2020 Duration: 0939-1600 = 6.5 hr.... Counter: Bill Haley... Weather: 0930 clear, 1200 clouds 5%, 1300 clouds 35%, 1400 clouds 50%, 1500 clouds 60%; wind NNW all day starting 2-5, increasing to 5-8 with occasional gusts of 12-15 after 1300; temperature started 53 to 68F at day's end; visibility 70K all day. ... There was a good Broad-wing push this morning while the wind was calm. 95% were adults. Many of the birds were seen coming across the valley and they ended up quite close and low. If a photographer with a good lens had been there, they could have gotten some great shots.... Hawks by hour: 0930-1000: BW 20 1000-1100: SS 1, BW 11 1100-1200: 0 1200-1300: NH 1, SS 2, BW 7 1300-1400: SS 1, CH 1 1400-1500: BE 1 (imm.), BW 1 1500-1600: BW 5 Totals; BE 1, NH 1, SS 4, CH 1, BW 44 Total raptors: 51.... Other sightings: Red-headed woodpecker 2 Red- breasted Nuthatch, several heard Monarch butterflies 10...... Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley _____________________________ Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report Sat, Oct. 3, 2020 .. Duration: 0930-1330 = 4.0 hrs. .. Counter: Bill Haley ... Weather: clear until 1300 clouds 3%; wind started NNE 2-5, changing to SE 1-4 @ 1100 for the rest of the day; temp. 44-60F; visib. 70K..... Hawks by hour: 0930-1000: 0 1000-1100: 0 1100-1200: SS 1 1200-1300: 0 1300-1330: 0 Total: SS 1... A beautiful day, but the hawks weren't flying. Because there were other things that needed doing, I left early, with only one hawk to show for 4 hours effort. It will probably be 1100, after church, before I arrive tomorrow. Hopefully the hawk flight will be better. Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley .......KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!.....

Grand Totals After September 2020

Grand Totals of all seasons only, after September only: BWs 72,290........All Raptors 96,483.................. KEEP LOOKING UP !!!!

Time for September totals and Grand Total updates

Before I ck to see if Jimmy has caught up on the September totals at Hawkcount.org, I'll post this morning's report: Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report Thurs., Oct. 1, 2020 Duration: 0930-1630 = 7.0 hr. Counter: Bill Haley Weather: Clear, up to 1200 clouds 2%, 1300 clouds 5%, 1400 clouds 20%, temperature 57-75F, wind calm till 1100, then NW 2-10, with occasional gusts up to 15 mph for rest of the day until 1500, when it went to 3-8 mph, visibility 65K all day. When the wind became strong from the NW around 1100, it closed down a promising start to the hawk flight. NW winds push hawks off the ridge and out over the valley. Several of the sharpies were seen far away from the ridge, going down the valley. The flight picked up a bit after 1500 when the wind quieted a little. Hawks by hour: 0930-1000: SS 1 1000-1100: SS 1, CH 1, BW 4 1100-1200: 0 1200-1300: 0 1300-1400: SS 1 1400-1500: SS 2 1500-1600: SS 1, BW 4, RS 1 1600-1630: SS 1, BW 1 Totals: SS 7, CH 1, BW 9, RS 1 Total raptors: 18 Other sightings: Red-breasted Nuthatch, Monarch butterfly 28. Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley" KEEP LOOKING UP!!! http://hawkcount.org/466-2020-09 Month Summary:Sep, 2020 Black Vulture Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Northern Goshawk Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Golden Eagle American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Unknown Accipiter Unknown Buteo Unknown Falcon Unknown Eagle Unknown Raptor Date Obs Hrs BV TV OS BE NH SS CH NG RS BW RT RL GE AK ML PG UA UB UF UE UR TOTAL 2020-09-16 5 1 41 42 2020-09-17 4.5 1 15 16 2020-09-19 7.5 1 101 102 2020-09-20 7.5 3 2 3 4066 4074 2020-09-21 4.5 28 28 2020-09-22 7 1 2 2 1 16 22 2020-09-23 4 1 1 2 4 2020-09-26 7.5 2 1 7 1 14 1 2 28 2020-09-27 6.5 9 12 2 23 2020-09-28 7 2 1 10 3 2 1 1 20 2020-09-29 4 1 1 2020-09-30 7.5 2 3 11 57 2 1 76 Total: Sep 2020 72.5 hours 0 0 5 8 7 43 6 0 0 4355 1 0 0 4 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 4436 Total: Fall 2020 72.5 hours

September is almost in the books -

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk totals Mon., Sept. 28, 2020 Duration: 0930-1630 Counter: Bill Haley Weather: 0930 clouds 80%, wind SSE 5-10, temp. 68F, visib. 20K; 1100 clouds 60%, temp. 72F, visib. 40K; 1200 wind SSE 5-10, visib. 60K; 1300 clouds45%, wind SE 10-15, temp. 76F; 1400 clouds 35%, temp. 79F; 1500 clouds 60%, temp 81 F; 1600 clouds 75%, temp. 79F. Hawks by hour: 0930-1000: 0 1000-1100: SS 4 1100-1200: SS 4, PG 1 1200-1300: BE 2, BW 1, ML 1 1300-1400: SS 2 1400-1500: NH 1 1500-1600: AK 1 1600-1630: BW 2, AK 1 BE 2, NH 1, SS 10, BW 3, AK 2, ML 1, PG 1 Total: 20 raptors Other sightings: Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Monarch 16 Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley ________________________ Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report, Tues., Sept. 28, 2020 Duration: 1000-1400 = 4 hrs. Counter: Bill Haley Weather: 1000 clouds 100%, wind NW 10-15, temp. 56F, visib. 35K; 1100 wind NW 2-5, temp. 58F, intermittent light rain; 1200 wind NW 1-3 temp. 59F; 1300 wind NW 2-8, temp. 61F. Hawks by hour: 1000-1100: SS 1 1100-1200: 0 1200-1300: 0 1300-1400: 0 Total: SS 1 = 1 raptor Complete overcast all four hours kept raptors from flying today. Better weather and sunshine predicted tomorrow. Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley KEEP LOOKING UP!!!