Season summery 2013 We kicked off the watch on Sept. 10 and ended on Oct. 01. We had 18 days coverage and logged 102.25 hours. We counted for the season: 8 Osprey; 19 Bald Eagles; 2 Northern Harriers; 32 Sharp-shinned Hawks; 14 Cooper's Hawks; 4 Red-shouldered Hawks; 2656 Broad-winged Hawks; *4 Red-tailed Hawks (as far as I know, the first ever dark phase Red-tailed Hawk); 3 American Kestrels; no Merlin's; 4 Peregrine Falcons along with 1 unidentified accipiter and 1 unidentified Raptor. TOTAL: 2748 Our Broad-winged Hawk average was off by around 2300 birds. Our official big day total was 801 BW's on Sept. 26th. On Sept. 18th. Cynthia was only able to count 130 specks in a massive kettle that just never materialized as they flew to the west before they got close enough for us to count. The estimate would have exceeded 500 birds and most likely over 1,000. Cynthia could see a writhing gray matter that looked like glitter in the distant skies as the hawks kettled which she knew were Broad- winged Hawks but we couldn't in good conscience count them. More than likely this could have been our biggest kettle ever! Visitors for the season included: Andrew Theus Ruth Ann Henry x 3 visits Charles Murray x 4 Pete & Marg Krampee x 2 Lenny Kafka Charlie & Suan Corn Lora McBride x 3...a quick study and eager new counter! Bob Saunders Kathy Andregg from Georgia Carla Quinn with parents Martha & Ben Hall Phil & Carolyn Snow...Carolyn always comes on our biggest day! Tony & Iva Kate Hopper from Alabama Jeffrey Schaarschmidt x 2... maybe he will become a regular! David & Jackie Boykin from Georgia Jennifer Taylor from the TN Aquarium Mark McShane x 2 brought Pat Markey both from Georgia and Phil & Jody from Georgia May I give special thanks to all the regular counters who make Soddy Mtn. Hawk Watch what it is... Harold Birch Bill Holt Cynthia Wilkerson and myself Jimmy Wilkerson Hixson, Hamilton Co., Tn