OCTOBER IS GOING TOO FAST

 Thurs. October 22, 2026

American White Pelicans - A Personal Fave

October 21 '26 , Wednesday

It's fun to be able to record other sightings at the Hawk Watch. I remember the first time I saw a flock fly low over our heads from the South.  I remember saying. "Look UP!" Being directly over my head, I couldn't exactly tell what they were. I was hoping someone with a better angle would.  They often congregate just north of us on the Tennessee River near Hiwassee, on or near the Island across from the Indian Museum Overlook.  But they can be found all along the River's edge in little nooks from the watch all the way up. 

Welcome, Jim Rowell! Thanks for coming up.

Here's the report:

Beautiful Weather and Continued Hawks

 Tuesday October 2026

Turkey Vultures are generally midday birds. They seldom leave a perch until their wings dry midmorning. Sharpies will fly early. Bald Eagles leave their roosts at about 7am.  So it's never a surprise to have the midday have Vulture numbers.

Here's the report:

Largest Number Of Turkey Vultures Yet This Season

I have been very sick for several days so I am behind in posting. But I felt like I could get at least on of these up. More if it goes well and I don't make mistakes.  But it is going to be short and sweet because I am still struggling.  So excited that Bill is able to capture these latter season TVs.  There could be a lot more to come. Here's the report:

Good Numbers of TVs Going Forward?

October 18, '26 Sunday

It is said Turkey Vultures and Red-Tailed Hawks merely shift more than Migrate. Ok, I might call the Red-tailed move a shift because they just aren't seen farther south into South America I think it is. But Turkey Vultures  can bee seen in large kettles all across the sky when we travel West to Nashville and again in spring. This is no small movement. And the numbers get huge on the border watches.  So what does it look like in comparison in the Panama region. It is easy to find out with 

https://hawkcount.org/ 

At the time of my writing the server is a bit overloaded with people catching up on their reports .  So I will have to come back to this.  Or maybe you can.  Compare the rise in Red-tailed Hawks counted at sites south of the border to the rise in Turkey Vulture counts south of the border.  It because of data that I can make an entirely unsubstantiated claim, off the top of my head, right or wrong, and you can go and find the truth. Nowdays, I almost demand you find out for yourself. Put the numbers to the test but be fair.  Consider there are more than one flyway for migrating Hawks. vast areas of difference in ecological differences in the nesting grounds of various birds leaving out of the North. And the numbers from the East of the US don't directly compare to the numbers out of the Western counts. Most specifically, to the kinds of raptors which can be found in the west vs the east, how their competition for food and other life blood needs will differ. Just always be fair. 

Here's the report:

GETTING LATE ENOUGH TO START COUNTING TV'S

Saturday Oct 17, 26 

Welcome to our visitor, Julie!! Come again some time. 

Loved seeing the Tree Swallow numbers, locals of Bald Eagles possibly pairing up to nest soon,  and others on the move - responding to the cool down.  Winds as usual meant little except Sharpies dare migrate unless too high to see.  And I think I just figured out how to fix the side bar running numbers charts.  All is good. Here's Bill's Report:

(Just a note to explain something. On Phones, the Side Bar Info does not show. It is clipped to make things viewable on the phone. To see the running totals for instance at the left and right side of the blog post, one must be on a laptop or desktop computer. Or purhaps an Ipad size?) 

FALL YALL!!! Is actually rushing in.

Oct 16 26 Friday. Winds can hamper hawk flights sometimes. But Sharpies seem not to mind so much. That is why this is a great time for them to migrate.  There are places up north which had their first snows last night. This will push more hawks to move south.  Would like to see more Coopers Hawks.  

The side bars still do not allow me to update daily. Even if I made a new. This will be a problem going forward. I've had a running total for many years.  Making it public has been a key to the reason for having a blog.  Hopefully we can get a fix before 13 years like with the former problems. LOL For the record. last entries were on Tuesday the 13 Oct.

Here's the Report:

Sharp-shinned Numbers Keep Going UP!

This is the time when Sharp-shinned Hawks like to migrate. I'll try to paste a chart from another page below to show the general pattern of when various hawks tend to fly through our area. Bill put this chart up years ago to help with our expectations of what to expect that we can see on the move. Here's todays Report: 

12 Migrating Hawks Today, 10 of Which Were Sharpies

 Wednesday, October 14, 2026

It was a Sharpie kind of day.  But a Merlin was the Cherry on top. 

( Something was wrong today and I could not update the side bars.. I didn't add the numbers from this report on either side. The totals listed are through yesterday, the 13th.  )

Here's the report:

Turkey Vulture Count Began Today

 Tuesday, 10 13, 26    Bill had some good looks today. Loving that hawks were able to get up and going as the hurricane gets out to sea. Turkey Vultures have begun to move in a way Bill can tell they are heading south. Let's see the report:

Post Hurricane Isaias Which Did a Lot Of Damage In Western NC Again

Oct 12,26 Monday.  Since Friday, Hurricane Isaias (esa-ias) came and went, entering on the panhandle coast of Florida near Pensacola. It ran up thru Alabama and GA bringing rain into our area as well. Since it was much needed. we can't complain. But the N.E edge and East side of it brought 53 tornado reports as is ran through GA, SC. and NC. Hitting several areas around Raleigh.  Some damage in Cary where my brother lives as well. But the hardest hit once again was the Chimney Rock/ Bat Cave area in NC and over into Pensacola NC on Bear Wallow Rd. All such familiar places to me.  Hwy 226 I believe was reported to have several land slides with huge rocks over the roads.  A lot of previously washed out roads were hit again.  I am so thankful it was not the horror of Helene 2 years ago. Reports say the alert systems worked very well and had people going to higher ground in plenty of time this go round. What a blessing.  But while that was all going on, we let the rains soak in and restore our heavily affected flora, to get a little restoration.  And Bill get a little rest. But as Monday opens up, he was expecting more. 

Here's the report:

Top It Off With A Merlin!

Friday, 10 9, '26 

This one accidentally didn't get sent, so we are a bit late getting it up.  But better late than never. LOL

Here's is Friday's report:

When The Hawks Aren't Flying

Sometimes, you just have a little time to spend on the watch.  It used to be quite a drive for some of us. It is up a mountain side after all. But even with Bill being closer than when he lived near town, there just aren't enough hours in the day.  So will the hours you choose be the same as the hawks choose? Not always, of course. So some days the data reflects that. And only that. And THAT is the nature of our data.  Any data is DATA.  Even when the numbers are ZERO.  The hours were spent seeing what was moving at that point in time. It's good data even when the count is 0. Like I always say- DATA IS DATA EVEN WHEN IT IS ZERO.

Here's the report:

Sharpies Keep Growing Their Numbers!

 Thurs. October 7, 2026.   I love seeing the SS hawks #s increasing  by leaps and bounds.  Not that they don't most years. But it's is obvious quite early this year to me. Maybe I never noticed so much. Shame on me.  

Here is the report for a great raptor day. We might get another in before the left overs from the Hurricane to our south bring us rain. Today and maybe some tomorrow before it gets to us. Remember: no watch time in the rain.

A Practical WARNING For Hawkwatchers Everywhere!!!

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

I am just going to let Bill's report speak to the very important warning we give to come prepared to watch hawks. I don't think I gave it enough messaging yet this year.  Regardless of your age or health, being prepared with food and especially hydration is a must for sitting in our hot sun on that hill. And then actually consume it.  Here's the story for Tuesday, and Bill's admonishment. Much love to our long time friend, Ruth Ann Henry and a hawk-watch enthusiast who comes every year, but succumbed to the heat. I have been there, myself. The sweat from my entire body just dried up and I felt it. Thankfully, Jimmy and either Bill or Harold (? not sure which) were aware that meant I was about to have a heat stroke. I was prepared, I just got too busy watching hawks and forgot my water.  But for all day, water may not be enough. Something with electrolytes became my go to after that.

Here's the Report:

After Some Rains - Early October

October 5, '26 - Monday. 

The long awaited rain, and a little reduction in heat starts a hope for continued variety in possibly a little easier time sitting out on the watch. Alas, it was back to blue skies as the clouds moved away. 

Welcome to the visitors!  Anupa Doraiswami and K.V. Pratap please come again. I hope you enjoyed your visit.  

Here's the report:

Clouds Rolled In and Bill Added His First Red-tailed Hawk

Fri 10 2 26 - Friday's clouds were exactly what you like to see, at least what we were seeing in the valley. Tall and billowing, make a great background for the high ones that stream through with purpose, or gather in thermals so small you can't see them with a naked eye. So glad for this day of Hawks he could actually see. 

Here's the report:

October Already, Needing Rain

Bill has continued to brave the Blue skies, with a slight repreave from the heat. Thursday opened a new month. And Bill's favorite time to hawk watch. He likes the variety of hawks species far better than the masses of BWs. Time to check each bird out. To watch it's behavoir, flight habit, wing positions, and learn it's silouette. He did much of that years ago. But each year we would all renew our license to judge by studying each bird as closely as the flight would allow. There is always room to learn.........Great to see Beth Barron up for a second trip. Hope she was able to see another species or two. Always welcome! Here's the report for the first day of October 26'.

Peregrin Falcon Makes an Appearance

The BW numbers will slow now. Large numbers moved South early this year according to many watchers. The Nor'Easter which went up the eastern coast pushed them a little west of us. Holly Taylor up in Putnam Co. TN around Clarkville reported a huge push of BWs, showing videos online of a pure river of BWs migrating by them a few days ago. I mentioned it looked like being in Corpus Christi. While Corpus Christi racked up 80.000 plus 2 days in a row. There are no shortages of BW hawks. They just have not made a huge showing over Soddy Mountain while Bill was able to be there. Thankfully, he's had a steady stream of help and visitors, and that is very motivating, and fun. And he's had enough hawks to help people get to see them. Even with some variety. Today's count is pretty much a good example. And just seeing the hawks, and getting to know them is often better than a thousand BWs. Here's the report:

Clear Blue All Day!

Monday September 28, 26 Jimmy and I were on the deck, while Blake was replacing more of the boards - sawing. talking. and just all around making noise, when Jimmy asked about a small bird in the trees. Before we knew it, there were a couple dozen, and every one seemed to be a small warbler, at first. We had a little fall out of great species and turned our eyes skyward to ck for hawks. And the first thing Jimmy said was, I would not be on the Lookout today. The skies were so blue they seemed solid. So this report was pulled out of the near impossible: