Sunday Migrants Pushing Through - A Good Day

A great Sunday afternoon report!  As Bill always says, there are more hawks than just Broad-wings, and they continue to track through our Hawkwatch skies. Bill gives some good ID info this post so be sure to take note.  Great to share with new birders as well.

Merlin pic from All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology as found in
Chrome Images.  The dark falcon...

After wrestling lately with my old computer softwares, I did an upgrade to Google Chrome.  It somehow locked my Control Key for quite a while, and after some tears, I was about to give up.No files would open, I couldn't put up a new page in my Gimp, I couldn't open our facebook, and everything I tried, nothing happened.  I could not figure out what to do, but it seemed I could copy paste.  I thought, I will copy/paste what I can, so I opened my Word file, the only one that even tried to open. A box came up which said that I was holding down my control key.  A number of years ago, when upgrading, I had run into that before, so I knew something had it locked. It wasn't just stuck, so I thought, "How did I download a virus upgrading from Chrome?", and I was discouraged to say the least. But after hitting the Control Key a number of times, it released.  Very slowly, a few things at a time came back to usefulness. Eventually, I could open files, including pictures which didn't respond before. And then Norton popped up several files which had been loaded to my computer, telling me it was safe, and it was over.

Someone who knows more about computers might understand what happened, but it seems to me, that it just needed to stop operations to do the upgrade.  Anyway, I discovered that as I feared one of my Blogs would not work anymore, it has been cached as far as Chrome is concerned. For now, it still operates through Internet Explore, but all the others, including our Blog, worked just fine as soon as I figured out how and where to put in usernames and passwords, and get them all open. I do not know if I can write to them, however, because they are under my name and a separate Email, so for now, I will not log in and out. But will just post here. Too much work  - these computer changes sometimes. But it's done.

I let Saturday's report stay up a while today, and am posting for Sunday. Good numbers for the time spent..

Maybe no more delays because of computers...

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report for
 Sun , Oct. 13, 2019

Time on lookout: 1330-1645 = 3.25 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley 1330-1645

Visitor: Tim Baldwin 1430-1645

Weather: 1300 Clouds 35%, wind ESE 2-8, visib. 65K, temp. 75F. 1400 Wind S 2-5, temp. 75F. 1500: Clouds 70%, wind S  2-5, temp. 78F. 1600: Clouds 90%, wind S 5-8, temp 79F.

Raptors by hour:

1330-1400: 0

1400-1500: SS 4

1500-1600: NH 1, SS 4, CH 1, ML 2

1600-1645: SS 1, CH 1

Total raptors: 

NH 1

 SS 9

CH 2

ML 2

______________

Total Raptors: 14 

I was joined by Tim Baldwin, an enthusiastic new watcher who first visited the lookout last week. His wife Barb was in Kansas City visiting their 1 year old grandson, so he decided to get some more hawkwatching experience. It proved to be an exciting day, with a nice mixture of species. This fall has been tough, as I've had a lot of visitors, but not a lot of hawks to show them. Thankfully today was different and Tim saw everything that flew by. 

Sharpies began moving through as blue skies grew cloudy. We discussed some clues to differentiate Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks from Pete Dunne's book, Hawks in Flight. About that time a Cooper's came through overhead and it was easy to note the head which sticks out farther than it's smaller cousin's does, straight leading edge of the wings and the fact it didn't flap as much, or as often, as a sharpie.

As it grew increasingly cloudy, I commented that I often expect Northern Harriers in similar darkened conditions. He had often seen them coursing low over marshes, but never in a situation like this.  In migration they can fool you into thinking they are a Turkey Vulture coming head-on, but they usually flap every now and then, which is a good clue it could be a Harrier. I commented, "Now if a Harrier would just come by." A short time later I saw a bird come over the brow. Dihedral like a TV, but it flapped some. A Northern Harrier! Even though it was a pretty close bird, Tim couldn't seem to get on it. He said he was seeing two birds, which turned out to be a couple of sharpies. Finally he also found the immature Harrier, and it flew right over the lookout, not too high up. One of the sharpies was not far behind. First harrier he'd ever seen "at altitude". To that point, the bird of the day.

The "icing on the cake" came at 1554. Two small birds came around the brow of the north ridge, and they both showed sharply-pointed wings and strong continuous flapping. Two Merlin's! They were only separated by 30-40 feet, one right behind the other! They passed close enough that we got decent looks as the pair of small, dark falcons zoomed south. They are usually solitary. I'm not sure I've ever had two come through so close together. This was truly a memorable sighting to cap off a good day!

Also saw 16 migrant Monarch butterflies.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley"

I appreciate Bill's quick reporting, and apologize to him for delays in getting them up.  Such good news. Who could say having 2 Merlins and a Northern Harrier in one afternoon was a less then stellar day?  So Happy Tim could be there, welcome to the Hawkwatch.  Thanks for joining Bill. 

as always...who knows what you'll see or do, IF YOU 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

October Pics Show A Little Color

Bill took a few minutes to take a few pics of fall beginning to peek into the hawk-watch surroundings. Plus some little interest shots, because there is always a little nature to enjoy when the hawks are scarce. LOL

Note the Loon in the Other sightings!

Enjoy-  Here's Saturday's report:

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019

Time on lookout: 0945-1600 = 6.25 hr. 

Counter: Bill Haley

Pictures by William Haley (Bill)

Weather: 0945 Clouds 100%, wind NNW 5-12, visib. 55K, temp. 55F. 1100 wind NE 10-15, visib. 65K, temp. 57F. 1200 Clouds 99%, wind NE 2-8, temp. 60F. 1300 Clouds 60%, wind NE 2-5, temp. 63F. 1400 Clouds 35%, temp. 66F. 1500 Clouds 50%, wind NNW 2-10, temp. 68F.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raptors by the hour:

0945-1000: 0

1000-1100: SS 1

1100-1200: 0

1200-1300: SS 2

1300-1400: BE (ad.) 1, NH 1, SS 5

1400-1500: BE (ad ) 2

1500-1600: 0

   

BE 3

NH 1

SS 8

_______________

12 Total Raptors 

 

 

Other notable sightings:

- Wild Turkey (8) feeding in yard at junction of Jones Gap and Burchard Roads in way to lookout.

- Common Loon (1) flying south.

-Canada Goose (50) large V flying south. This is quite unusual. We expect to see Snow Geese, Double-crested Cormorants or Sandhill Cranes migrating in V's, but for some reason we very rarely see large numbers of Canada Geese.

- Monarch butterflies: 8

 

I only counted one sharpie before the clouds began to move out. The hour the clearing took place was the busiest of the day. Once I had a majority of blue sky the migrants dried up.

I will be up there after church tomorrow.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Life Gets in the Way....LOL

Two notes from Bill....every report counts.

Sunday's a no go:
"Cloudy weather after church meant grocery shopping and painting at the new place. (I would have rather been on the hawk lookout, as I'm starting to hate paint!) By the time there was some clearing, I couldn't figure out a way to get out of "paint detail". It was later in the afternoon anyway, so I'll have to hope for better luck tomorrow or Tuesday. I will only get to spend a partial day up there on Wednesday, and then back to work Thursday.

Bill"

..............................................................................

 

"Soddy Mountain, TN, hawk report

Tues., Oct. 8, 2019

Time on lookout: 0945-1500 = 5.25 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

Weather: 0945 Clouds 100%, wind NE 2-8, visib. 45K, temp. 65F, (some sun poking through to East of TN River). 1100 Clouds 98%, wind ENE 2-5, visib. 50K, temp. 68F. 1200 Clouds 95%, wind ENE 2-10, visib. 65K, temp. 72F. 1300 Clouds 75%, temp. 76F. 1400 Clouds 35%, wind ENE 2-5, temp. 79F.

Raptors by hour:

0945-1000: BE (ad.) 1

1000-1100: 0

1100-1200: SS 1

1200-1300: SS 1

1300-1400: BW 1

1400-1500: 0

 

 BE  1

SS 2

BW 1 

____________

Total raptors : 4 

While I could see some sun a few miles to the east most of the day, it was completely socked in at the lookout until almost 1400. Even with clearing, no migrant raptors to count. It was nice to see a late Broad-wing, which showed up near the beginning of cloud break-up.

Monarch butterfly - 7

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley"

 

We appreciate you, Bill.

I for one don't mind that Bill is able to sometimes put getting his new abode in order....It's been a difficult Hawk count this year.  Proud of every number... many days there would be no numbers without his data.  As hawk watchers we all know there are days, sometimes many days, that the results are low. This year, it's been the norm,  but there is one more BE and one more BW that tell us they are still moving...on this date, on this year.  And weather has played an enormous roll in the count.  This dry heat has just made a change somehow in what is passing over the mountain, along the ridge, low enough to see. We have limitations and nature puts a damper on things sometimes.  That is data! It's a record.  And though seeing hawks is much more fun, it is the data after all that we have been  trying to record. Maybe this will be our record setting new low year.  It will definitely be the hottest up 'til now.  I am just sorry we are having to leave it all to Bill.  Thank you so much for your dedication.

For today, our tag line is more of an encouragement than a directive.....

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!

 

 

Saturday Numbers as a Front Brings Wind

When Bald Eagles fly close enough to get cell phone pics, it was worth being there to take them...

Here's Bill's report and pics:

"Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
 Sat., Oct. 5, 2019

Time on lookout: 1400-1715 = 3.25 hrs. 

Counter: Bill Haley 1400-1715

Visitors: Tim & Barb Baldwin 1430-1530

 

Weather report: 1400 Clouds 55%, wind S 10-15, visib. 15K, temp. 83F. 1500 Clouds 45%, temp. 87F. 1600 Clouds 40%, visib. 20K, temp. 89F. 1700 Clouds 30%, wind S 5-10, temp. 88F. 

 

 

Raptors by hour: 

1400: 0

1500: BE (ad.) 1, SS 1

1600: OS 1

1700: 0

 

 BE 1

 OS 1

 SS 1___________

 Total Raptors: 3 

Migrant butterflies:

Monarch 5, Cloudless Sulphur 2

 Photos by Bill Haley

 

Got a very late start today. A friend gave us a whole bedroom set for our new place: queen size bed w/almost new mattress and boxspring, chest of drawers, dresser and nightstand. My son-in-law Marc owns a big truck and today was the day he and my daughter Mindy could help Candy and I with the move. Between his truck, my truck and our SUV, we managed to get everything moved in one trip. We had to take down a couple of doors in our hallway to get everything in the bedroom, but we finally got it done. So at least I had a good excuse for my tardiness in reaching the lookout.

The wind was very strong from the south, which is not the choice direction for a good hawk flight. At 1430 I was joined by a nice couple, Tim and Barb Baldwin, who have just moved here from Chicago. They are birders, but had never visited a hawk lookout, so it was all new to them. They got directions from the blog, so thanks Cynthia and Jimmy! We had a great time visiting, as I familiarized them with landmarks and we worked on Turkey Vulture vs Black Vulture identifications. (Coming from Chicago, they'd not seen the more southern Black Vulture). Also got good looks at the local Red-tails as they enjoyed kiting in the strong winds - something else they hadn't seen before. The Baldwin's left at 1530, promising they'll be back again. I certainly hope so, as they proved to bring me good luck. (Read on).

Not 2 minutes after they left, I spotted a Sharp-shinned Hawk, which continued on south. My first countable bird of the day. 

(What a Turkey Vulture mimic pose! LOL - CW)

Seven minutes later, an adult Bald Eagle came sailing over the north ridge very low, approaching almost at eye level. I thought to myself, "Why couldn't the Baldwins have stayed just 15 minutes longer?" It actually had to flap several times to gain the altitude to clear the wires to the left of the pole! By far the closest BE this fall. I managed to get some decent shots with my cell phone as it passed. The bird continued south past Big Soddy Creek Gorge, and sailed on down the valley, so I counted it as a migrant.

I was feeling lucky after this, so decided to stay awhile longer. I was rewarded at 1629, as  an Osprey glided high overhead. It never flapped a single time, but rode the cushion of wind deflected off the face of the ridge all the way south.

A few minutes later, I heard the chip notes of some small birds behind me, so I pished a couple of times and a Magnolia Warbler, the first I've seen this fall, jumped up on a branch. I really hope Barb and Tim read this, as I'd just told them a story about a very special Magnolia Warbler that was responsible for me getting my present job. (I hadn't told that story in a long time, so it seemed destined to be.) Thanks to Tim and Barb - my good luck charms today.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley"

..........................................................................

 

Hope this cooler weather makes it easier to

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!! 

 

Waiting On A Front, Help Arrives Once Again

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report, Fri., Oct. 4, 2019

Time on lookout: 1000-1600 = 6.0 hrs.

Counter: Bill Haley 1000-1600

Visitors: Cheryl Finley 1045-1500

                Lenny Kafka 1145-1345

Weather:

1000 Clouds 50%, wind ENE 2-8, visib. 40K, temp. 75F. 1100  temp. 81F. 1200 temp. 84F. 1300 Wind NE 2-5, temp. 88F. 1400 Clouds 65%, visib. 50K, temp. 90F. 1500 Clouds 50%, wind NE 2-10, temp. 94F.

Raptors by hour:

1000: CH 1

1100: BW 1

1200: SS 2

1300: 0

1400: BE (ad.) 1

1500: SS 1

Total raptors:

BE 1, SS 3, CH 1, BW 1 = 6 total

Another very hot day, but at least we had a nice breeze most of the day to keep us from overheating. Clouds were good most of the day. Once again, not much activity from migrant hawks. We had some really good looks at local Red-tailed Hawks and adult Bald Eagles. At one time there were 5 eagles involved. 

The one eagle counted did not act like the local birds. It was seen coming high over the north ridge in a glide. It circled very high and then glided on south at high altitude.

Cheryl Finley and Lenny Kafka made their second appearance on the lookout this fall. I really hoped they would get to see a memorable flight. Unfortunately the hawks were uncooperative. It's really difficult to get someone hooked on hawkwatching when there are no hawks to watch!

There is supposed to be a change (finally) in the weather pattern, with a chance of rain and slightly cooler temperatures in the next 2-3 days. Time will tell if that shakes the hawks loose.

Migrant butterflies:

Monarch 17

Cloudless Sulphur 19

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

            ..............

 

Bill says we just have to get a chance to meet Cheryl.  I certainly hope we get that chance.  I am so proud she and Lenny came out again.  Maybe this cool weather will allow for a steady stream of migrants and give them a chance to see more birds.   Thanks for this report, Bill. 

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!!

 

 

October Reports Coming In ~ More Record Breaking Heat

Soddy Mountain, TN hawk report
Thurs., Oct. 3, 2019

Time on lookout: 0900-1315 = 4.25 hr.

Counter: Bill Haley

 

Weather report: 0930 Clear, wind E 1-2, visib. 30K, temp. 73F. 1000 Wind ENE 1-4, Visib. 35K, temp. 77F. 1100 Temp. 83F. 1200 Clouds 2%, wind N 2-5, temp. 88F. Wind shifted to NW 10-15 mph by 1215, 1300 Wind WNW 10-15, clouds 8%, temp. 93F.

 

Raptors by hour: 

0900-1000: SS 1, AK 1

1000-1100: SS 1

1100-1200:. 0

1200-1300: CH 1

1300-1315: 0

  

SS 2

 CH 1

 AK 1 

__________________

 Total Raptors  4 

Other sightings:

Double-crested Cormorant 2

Red-headed Woodpecker 1

Monarch butterflies -59

Cloudless Sulphur - 2

 

Things started out favorably, with 2 Sharp-shins and an American Kestrel in the first hour. Unfortunately things slowed down after that. It was exceptionally hot, with our 9th or 10th record-breaking heat day. Searching for hawks in the solid blue sky was like searching through a very large haystack hoping for an exceedingly small needle. When the wind shifted to the west and temperatures continued to rise, I had to call it a day.

Reporting: William G. (Bill) Haley

_____________________________________

 

 

The Xfinity filters are now putting our TOS and some TN-bird, as well as some of Bill's reports into spam.  While we are happy to have some things go to spam, we are not happy to have the things we sign up for to go to spam.  We have almost missed a few things, including this email.  I will try to stay on top of it. I already have been checking spam to see if any other reports have fallen through the cracks. So if you sent one, please email us a note. 

 

The weather continues to be suffering hot on Watchers, and sometimes very few clouds.  I researched a number of sites on Hawkcount.org , who also are experiencing lower than usual numbers.  but the trend so far, as I have downloaded charts from VA NC and a couple of other sites is that most visible countable hawks are passing through Central NC.  I haven't done a thorough research yet to make positive declarations on the matter, but in a place or two in Va, the hawk counts were highest in mid-September, rather than later in the month as we generally expect.  And those hawks were not seen again later by watches except a couple of times in Midwestern NC at places like Grandfather Mtn, Linville NC and one other. I"ll try to get some results up for everyone to see this week.  To do a good report, I probably need to compare every site I visit with last year's numbers, but I won't have time to do so.  So in general I can only compare this year's numbers.  Bill having good morning numbers could be a very good indicator that Hawks are getting way high early in the day. 

 

Thankfully, many Accipiters and hawks like Northern Harriers and Falcons seem to prefer the treetops or lower altitudes.  So he may continue to get some good looks, especially if the cool fronts really do come in and lower the temps. 

 

He isn't giving up.  He hopes to go most days this week, so if you can join him, prepare for the heat and sun!

 

It's still and exciting time to

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!

C

Hot Days, Possibly No Coverage

Bill sent a note inquiring if anyone made it up over the weekend, and to provide some new dates for you to join him.  We want to never forget that even if BW season was not incredible, There are a host of other Hawks to come through this month and next. If you don't know Jimmy's email, and would like to send us a record of having been up, it is tenacbirder@comcast.net . Here's hoping we get a note.

"Jimmy and Cynthia;

Jimmy - I hope you are doing well after your most recent treatment. Cynthia - how are you getting around? I am going to try to get by to see you soon.

I just checked the blog and was hoping to see a report from SOMEONE since I was up there last Friday. I'm disappointed, but not really surprised. 

Unfortunately whenever I age out I figure it'll be the end of Soddy Mountain hawkwatch as we've known it all these years. My "little baby" will become just a footnote in Tennessee ornithological history. A big part of that is this blog, which you've kept so faithfully, and I thank you for all your time and effort. We've experienced some amazing sights over the years.

But I'm not throwing in the towel!!!!

I will be off from this Thursday till I have to go back to work the next Thursday. Some days I have to be elsewhere for at least part of the day, but will man the lookout when I can. Maybe I'll get lucky and catch a very late movement of Broad-wings, but if not, it'll go down as our worst BW season ever.

I promise, you WILL get some more reports and I will see more hawks. After all, we are now moving into MY favorite time.

I'll KEEP LOOKING UP!"

Bill, I checked several times this weekend, hoping. Jimmy and I spent a little time on the deck looking up ourselves.  But at this point we have no weekend hawkwatch reports.  Thanks for the info, and we hope you'll continue to have company at the watch all season.

 

Jiimmy's had a reaction to something on treatment day, but recovered before day's end, yet is weak as usual for a couple days after.  I am walking a lot now with and without my cane, although slowly.  And not for distances. But I'll get there over the next year they said.  Jimmy cannot stand the heat at all these days, or we might have ventured up for an hour or so ourselves if he felt better.  I'm happy to post when you think you will be up. Thanks for the note!

 

C

 

these days it's important in more ways than one to...

 

KEEP LOOKING UP!!!!!