Double Broad-wing Hawk Release

Sherry and Alix releasing a Red-Shouldered Hawk in September, 2014.
 

Alix instructs us before a Broad-wing release also in 2014.

YOU CAN BE THERE WHEN THEY RELEASE 2 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS IN 2016!!!


We are so excited to invite you all to the release of two rehabbed Broad-winged Hawks, on Saturday September 17, 2016.   10 AM.  Sherry Teas and Alix Parks will share these marvelous birds with us, provide some wonderful education and photo ops before release.  Please share with your family and friends.

Children are welcome, but we advise that there is a cliff that is not fenced. 
Children who've visited have stayed back from the edge.

You may RSVP at: Double Broad-winged Hawk Release, event page on Sherry's Page, or share the event with family and friends from the Soddy Mtn's watch Facebook page.

Come to stay for the release, or stay for the count all day.  Your choice.  Bring Chairs, water &/or snacks, and cameras,(cell phones).  Parking is limited so consider car-pooling for groups. Please Share the info, and find a link to directions on the left top side bar.

People Want to Know - 10,521 views

According to the latest update of our Blog stats, we have had 10,521 views of the Blog.  I am thankful for those who have followed us, over the last few years, and especially those who have been able to also join us on the mountain.

This year, Jimmy and I will not be about getting numbers.  We look to the skies even today, and wonder how many hawks have already begun to move by the lookout.  It is bittersweet, to make the choice to be there only a few days out of the season.  But In order to preserve not just our health but that of our fellow watchers, we have decided it's best.  

We choose, as many of you know, to go up during Broad-wing activity, due exclusively to the numbers and how they tend to gather into thermals.  It makes getting other and newer watchers on the birds, a little easier sometimes, and also encourages people to look for and learn about the process of Hawk Migration as a whole. 

I was working in my back yard garden recently, and heard the call of a Broad-wing. I looked up to see it circling close over the treetops, and wondered had I just seen my first migrant of the year.  Which brings up a subject I want to discuss anyway.  You don't have to be on a Hawk watch site, to watch migrant hawks. We hawk-watchers seek such sights for their broad viewing range, the rising thermals and wind rushes that push up the banks and cliffs, and because it's just higher.

I have seen fairly large kettles of Broad-wings from the road I live on in the valley. We also used to think we were the southernmost watch along the eastern mountain flyway, not being able to discover one in North Ga. But found, last year, that a couple in Alabama, on flat farm land, have manned a watch for several years now.  And they see large numbers of hawks. And they should - because they are directly on the directional line, of where we normally expect our hawks to go, when they fly out toward the SW from us.  Those watchers, have given us more evidence, of when and where the hawks fly, as they move toward the Texas border, where they gather by the 10 thousands before heading into Mexico and destinations further south.

Knowing when to look is the key. So for those of you new to the Hawk Watching family,  the best weeks in our area to see kettles of hawks migrating through, is from the 15th of September through the first week of October.  The very best time is immediately before a front moving through, or immediately after, especially if it brings a lot of rain.  Hawks in the area will often escape before the weather sets in, and those further north which were moving our way, will sit the weather out, dry their wings, hunt for food, and get underway again.  So if the clouds break, head toward the watch.  Occasionally, large numbers sit out the weather in the trees of the valley around the hawk watch.  On these days, it has been possible to see what we believed were "lift offs".  The rising of a few to several dozen hawks from the trees.  There have been days we felt hawks set down for the evening just north of us, when, in the morning,  they began coming over the ridge one after the other, flying low along the bluff, or scooting along the highway beneath us. 

There are some dull days, and many have come to help us watch and never see a single raptor other than the Vultures or locals.  Some have stayed all day, only to leave and hear reports later of us seeing hundreds.  My heart aches when this happens.  And there are days we are counting hawks high in blue skies which, just due to experience, we may get on and can't get anyone else on.  We have to continue counting to be effective, but sometimes, I wish we could just take time to get out a scope or share binoculars, or do something to help the disappointed looking skyward, be able to see them.

So...What I think our year will be about this year, is to be less about numbers and more about trying to help people see the hawks.  I hope we can be successful, because it depends on a lot of things happening.  But I know I am not going to keep my binocs constantly on the sky 8 hours a day the way I have.  I pray the hawks will fly low and there will be way more clouds than there have been this summer.  If you are inclined to help us pray, pray for some cooler weather.  I for one, would appreciate it.

In my next post, I have a little something special Jimmy found to kick off the Blog officially.  I hope you will share our Blog, and our Facebook page with others.  To find the Facebook page, type "Soddy Mountain Hawk Watch" into the search line.  Our page will come up. "Like" it and and choose how to follow us.

We tend to give up do date links, and immediate info there.  We tend to give stats and stories here. If you are new to the blog, be sure to spend some time looking around on the pages.  There is a page dedicated to old stats, one to directions, and some to identification. Several other pages are on the side bar as well.  Follow us here, or simply like the Facebook page, and we will supply links as I post.  Please feel free to leave messages or post comments on the Facebook page. It isn't formal, just hoping to be informational.  Looking forward to seeing some of our dear friends again. and will be totally thankful for every eye to the sky. Thanks in advance to all who are willing!

It is now time to begin:
Keep LOOKING UP!

Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson


Post Script: One of our Hawk-watchers has been on a long-time quest to see a real Moose in the wild/ and here is his Quest is Finished! blog  - http://moosequest.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-quest-finished.html

Broad-wing Calling

For the summer, the key to hawk watching is to notice pairs...hopefully, nesting pairs.  I am not an advocate of revealing locations of nests, but to note you have one in your area adds to the assurance that the environment is healthy for reproduction in the greater area. Jimmy and I are always proud to hear the bright Pit-eeeeeee of the Broad-wing Hawk calling to it's mate.  Sometimes we aren't in a position to be sure there actually is a near-by mate, but if we can find in a certain site, a Broad-wing frequenting a certain tree or wire over and over, chances are there is a mate, and perhaps a nest nearby.  Without assuming too much, we at least take note of the repeated presence of such a bird.

This is the case lately with a Broad-wing we see over and over near Harrison Rd, along Hwy. 27, N.  The Exit to Walmart of all places. So if you are driving on 27 in that area, keep a look out.  We have seen it near to our car more than once, and when we look up, it is so easy to see the dark black outline around it's wings.  Quick easy ID. But once when our roof window was open, we heard that familiar call. Piteeeeee. (some sources say: Kee-eeeeee) What an attention getter. LOL

For those who have never heard it, check out this link and become familiar with the Broad-wing call, which you will seldom hear during fall migrations.  It is far more likely that you might hear it in summer.  Maybe you could go on a scavenger hunt one day, keeping your ears open for hawk calls, and learn to ID them by the calls.  Summer hawks are often unnoticed until they call.  So keep your ears on high alert, and you may have a wonderful summer birding experience, when the call also leads you to a nest or pair/fledge interaction.  And you will find opportunities to learn to ID young hawks as well, while viewing their more obvious attempts to find food.  Summer is actually a good time to go hawk watching, in something other than "migration mode."  And songs or calls can be an important part of that.

As many sources will affirm, Blue Jays love to mimic hawk calls, and are very good at it.  So be certain your calling hawk actually is one. Or become familiar enough that you can ID the hawk, whether it is an actual hawk or a Blue-Jay.  There are so many good sources and Apps now for Identifying birds and their sounds, that a quick reference to your favorite is simple to do.  We often play a bird song to draw out a bird we cannot see, or only hope is in the area during counts.  But I don't advise using this option with Hawks.  Hawks can be aggressive over territory, and will protect it. An supposed potential adversary might bring out the worst in a hawk with that aggression aimed at you and your device making the sound.  So be a little careful.  As always, may you have great birding days even in Summer. And even when you can't follow our advice to Keep Looking UP...Keep you birding ears on. 

Great birding to you!

And Keep Looking Up!

Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson

Spring Migration Lift-off from Perry County TN

Jimmy and I had not had a vacation in years, so this year we made a commitment to take one during spring migration, but to go to Dauphin Island in hopes of seeing a fallout, or at least the arrivals of warblers etc. coming across the Gulf.  We did and had a wonderful time, leaving with a total count of 129 species seen while we were there.  Due to heavy rains and a short 4 day stay, we were quite pleased with that total. 

While there, we ran into our Hawk watching regulars, Chuck and Lola Estes,  and enjoyed sharing some time at the Shell Mounds and also on the Pier. Having scopes along helped us find elusive Least Bittern hiding among the grasses.  Some good memories there.  And they helped us tout the Hawk Watch among many new birding friends. LOL

So, as a result, and because I came home to a severe sinus/bronchial infection, that I had been brooding for about a month, we didn't get up to the Hawk Watch even one day, while we were home.  With regrets ---- because the reports of returning Broad-wings have been phenomenal this year. 

This is a report sent in by Rueben Stohl, noting that they saw lift-offs of Broadies, and Sharpies in the morning from the mountain treetops north east of us.  With his permission we are sharing his report:

" From: Ruben Stoll <birdchaserrws@gmail.com>
To: tn-bird@freelists.org
Sent: Fri, 22 Apr 2016 16:59:08 -0000 (UTC)
Subject: [TN-Bird] Perry County Raptor Migration

April 22nd, 2016
White-oak Ridge Raptor Lookout and adjacent areas, Perry County TN

  Perfect weather for viewing migrating Hawks, with overnight grounded
birds seen lifting off in large numbers between 9 and 10 a.m., and most
gaining altitude until they literally disappeared in the clouds. Most of
the birds were Broad-winged Hawks, with unusual numbers of Sharp-shinned
Hawk seen as well.

Black Vulture 10
Turkey Vulture 35
Osprey 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 5
Cooper's Hawk 1
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 4
Broad-winged Hawk 317
Red-tailed Hawk 6
Mississippi Kite, 1 seen by AlanTroyer, missed by me because I was looking
the wrong direction counting Broad-winged Hawks.

  Also 22 warbler species along Cane Creek, highlights being Chestnut-sided
(FOS), 5 Cerulean, Blackburnian, and Blackpoll.

  Other FOS include Great Crested Flycatcher and Eastern Pewee.

Ruben Stoll, Centerville TN"

Note there was at least one Kite seen. Jimmy and I believed we saw a Mississippi Kite this past week, but were traveling, and unable to stop and confirm, but feel secure since it's entirely possible now.

So what does all this mean?

It is not too late to
KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!!!

Good birding to you,

Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson

Spring Migration 2016 is On

I saw my first Broad-wing Hawk of the Season Saturday morning, April 2, while driving along Hwy 8 W. between Cagle and Collins River.  It was scooting along a western ridge just above the treetops.  That early, it was probably hunting.  There was a beautiful morning light that accentuated the dark outline on the light under-wing, as I looked up at it passing over us.. When I first noticed it, I immediately thought, "that looks like a Broad-wing playing around." Then I realized, I should be certain so I could count it for the FOY- First of the Year 2016.  So glad I checked it out.  No Binocs on this one. Close and clear. Reports welcome.  Stop by the facebook page and let us know what you are seeing.
Soddy Mountain Hawk Watch - Facebook

We are seeking reports of Nesting Broad-wings or pairs you observe.  Please report the general area, or county.  We don't want to disturb nesting pairs.  But it will be fun knowing about those staying in our area for nesting. 

For anyone who might not have heard their call, be aware of it, because they often call to one another during nesting season.  It is described as a high pitched Pit-eeeeeeeee. It is very distinctly a sound you wouldn't associate with another bird.

However, I have heard a Blue Jay mimic the call and do an excellent job of it.  In fact, Jays are so good, that it is obvious that their job on earth is to warn young birds of hawk calls.  I have heard people complain that Bue Jays are mean to feeder birds because they land among them abruptly and scare everything away.  Well, what most people might never think of, is that if there wasn't a bird out there mimicking hawks that also didn't eat the birds, little ones might never learn of the danger hawks pose. Whether, Jays actually know their purpose, they provide a service to the bird world that is necessary.  (Just an aside, LOL)

This is a great time, in spring, to be birding by ear- by learning and knowing their calls.  Become familiar with the calls of Hawks and you will notice nesting pairs everywhere! The most vocal will be the Red-shouldered of course, and they have been in the area for over a month now.  Plenty of time to have some active nesting pairs.

So, let me make sure you understand, we would love to hear any reports of hawk nests in our expanded area. Hamilton and surrounding counties. In fact of any raptors.  If you are looking for a fun and valuable "something to do" especially with kids, this could be it.

Looking forward to reports.

Have a great birding spring! &
Keep Looking UP!!!

Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson

8618 TOTAL RAPTORS FOR FALL 2015

Bill says he sent pictures of his first day, and now sending pictures of his last day. And he IS the last day crowd. LOL

__________________________________________________________
At this point we are calling the season, although a few numbers might trickle in.  In general, some birds are beginning to return from lower climes, and the migrations of many species make for a fun mix of birds of all species both coming and going.  Bald Eagles for instance, may be well underway making nests. Or at the very least, gathering at roosts.  So, it's time to gather the data and double ck it.

I want to note here, that Jimmy does a lot of double checks through-out the season, so there are points in his records where he has made an entry at which point he hangs future data upon, because he has done enough checking to be content with those totals.  We base our final figures off of his returning to those batch figures and checking the grand totals against them.  What happens is  - my side panel totals may be off a little bit.  The reason for this is - I might miss several days updating, or have made minor errors, or just missed posting a day's totals on the blog. I deliberately don't try to make it a perfect record until the very end. We periodically try to update to Jimmy's batch figures, and I update from there.  In so doing, the running totals are flexible, the finals, as of Jan. 1, become final.

 I always try to make it clear that this is a BLOG, the intention of which is to reach out to readers and give them a sense of what hawk-watching is about, and to have a place to display some records, so that there is an open accounting of Birding the Watch.  We want this to be readily available in something nearer to real time, more than past opportunities afforded.  In other words, to make it a little more public and a little more frequent.  It was never intended to be constantly perfect. Although, Jimmy would prefer the latter.  And I keep saying:" IT'S A BLOG!"

Yet at some point, when the records are final, I try to update it across the board to a point of accuracy with which we all can be content to hang our hat.  So today, as I added the last of the report data, I found there was an error on the RT hawks listed on the sidebar, but that due to recent sightings not updated. Otherwise, our running list was a sound double ck for our data records.  They matched.  And I am glad that the system of cks and double cks is working, adding additional assurance that the records are as good as we can humanly get them.  I was thankful to have not been off, just for the sake of infrequent guests having access to recent totals. Thanks so much to our regular readers for staying up with us.  ( according to blog and Facebook notices, we have a regular readership of about 117 and a maximum reach of about 1000 people depending on the news and numbers during the season.) To follow regular notices see our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Soddy-Mountain-Hawk-Watch

Although, the Season is closed, I hope to occasionally tackle  a new bit of info for future reference, and for those learning the craft of Hawk-watching. Otherwise, the posts will be less frequent until Spring and Fall counts.  Maybe, I will get out and capture a few pics, and post them just to keep the wall fresh.  But for now: the Fall Season is closed.  If a few numbers trickle in, we will add them, so the official total will not become official until Jan. 1, 2016. 

Here are the total stats:

TOTALS AS OF COUNT ON 12/3/2015
    4    Black Vultures
162    Turkey Vultures
  16    Osprey
  27    Bald Eagle Adults
    9    Bald Eagle Immatures    Total Eagles  36
    1    Golden Eagle Adult
  16    Northern Harriers
130    Sharp-shinned
  36    Coopers Hawks
  12    Red-shouldered
  38    Red-tailed
8135  Broad-winged Hawks
  10    American Kestrel
    3    Merlin
  16    Peregrine Falcons
    1    Unidentified Buteo (UB)
    2    Unidentified Raptors (UR)
________________________________

8618   TOTAL RAPTORS


38 days
177.00 Hours  (131.75 J&C et. al) (45.25 Bill)

------------------------------------------------
Notable birds:
   4      Double Crested Cormorants
   1      Common Raven
  91     Sandhill Cranes
155     Snow Geese
229     Blue Jays  (All that were counted... definitely more)

Mr. Cooper



Last Red-tail

Adult Bald's

Pictures are all Bill's today.

           
Through-out the season, we keep a running bird list as well.  So I will try to get it up this week, if Jimmy feels like making a tally.  And in upcoming weeks I like to make a few comparisons to past years, and begin updating the records pages.  They need to be finalized. 

It's been a great year!   We are hoping your families have wonderful Holiday experiences and can get together. May you all find the love and joy that was intended for renewal this time of year.  Blessings to all, especially all those volunteers who stood along side us this year.  You are amazing friends and we love you. May your birding be a continued joy.  Looking forward to seeing some at the upcoming bird-counts.

Whereas most people say to "stop and smell the roses" - I always hope you will take just a few minutes each day to:

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!!!

Jimmy and Cynthia Wilkerson


 
  

Golden Eagle and Last Count Day

Bill Haley who was called in for Jury Duty, reports his last 3 days, with an overlap from his last post as well.  The high-light is-  remember  the Golden Eagle we saw earlier in the season, going North?....Well, It came south. LOL We think it might be the same.  But so glad he saw one, same or not!!! We would have been disappointed for sure to not have counted it, uh, one. Just having a bit of fun pretending it's the same.

As Bill says, we may have closed out the season with this report. But if there are a few pretty days, we will be happy to do and addendum.  I will post the updated final report tomorrow. Here's Bill's report:

"Here are the totals from my last three days on the lookout. I’m pretty sure I sent you the Nov. 20 totals, but let me know if you didn’t get them. That was a pretty good day! Nov. 27 is probably the end of the season. However, if I can get away on a nice day with good flight conditions, there might be more to come. 

 11/22/15: Arrive 1:15, left 2:45. Total = 1.5 hr. 

1:15: wind N 10-15MPH, clouds 5%, visib. 85K, temp. 43F, hum. 33%, baro. 30.15

2:00: temp. 46F, hum. 38%, baro. 30.14 

Red-tail – 1

 

Sandhill cranes – 59

_________________________

 

11/26/15: Arrive 9:45, left 11:15. Arrive 3:00, left 3:45. Total = 2.25 hr. 

9:45: Wind SE 2-5, clouds 60%, visib. 50K, temp. 44F, hum. 79%, baro. 30.64. (Barometric pressure extremely high!)

10:00: temp. 53F, hum. 59%, baro. 30.64

3:00: Wind SE 2-5, temp. 70F, hum. 45%, baro. 30.50 

Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1 

Sandhill cranes – 9

_______________________

 

11/27/15: Arrive 11:15, left 4:15. Total = 5.0 hrs. 

11:15: Wind ESE 2-5, clouds 60%, visib. 50K (very hazy), temp. 63F, hum. 65%, baro. 30.48

12:00: Clouds 75%, temp. 67F, hum. 57%, baro. 30.46

1:00: Wind E 2-5, Clouds 90%, temp. 69F, hum. 52%, baro. 30.42

2:00: Clouds 65%, temp. 70F, hum. 49%, baro. 30.39

3:00: Clouds 75%, temp. 70F, hum. 49%, baro. 30.35

No 4:00 weather recorded 

Turkey Vulture – 38

Bald Eagle – 5 (4 ad., 1 imm.)

Golden Eagle – 1 (ad.)*

Cooper’s Hawk – 1

Red-tailed Hawk – 3 

* An adult Golden Eagle was seen on the lookout in mid-September, but it was heading north, so could not be counted. The one I saw today is the only countable GE of the 2015 fall season.

The adult Golden Eagle was first seen about 12:05 high over the north ridge. It was being harassed by a local adult Red-tail, which circled very close to the eagle and dove on it at least 4 times. This gave a good size comparison and it was quite easy to see how much larger the eagle was. I noted that it had no white on the underside, not even in the middle of the wings, as immature GE’s do. The complete lack of any white underneath ruled out immature BE. It was completely dark underneath. Occasionally as it circled I could catch a glimpse of some white at the base of the tail with a wide dark band at the tip of the tail. Finally the eagle tired of the Red-tail’s maneuvers and set its wings to glide south, passing directly overhead, but pretty high up. Compared to the head and beak of a BE, which appear quite large on a gliding bird, the head appeared noticeably smaller on this bird, which helped confirm my identification. 

Bill Haley"

 

I for one, am so glad Bill was on the Flat Top and able to - 

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!!

 

Cynthia and Jimmy Wilkerson