Nature Watch

Comment

Comment by Carolyn Tingle on September 18, 2009 at 10:07am

Saw a coyote down on the south end. He ran up in the woods and stopped to look back. We maintained eye contact for some time--phenomenal beauty.

Comment by Jason W. Hill on September 18, 2009 at 9:14am

Kenilworth Residents,
A neighbor reminded me that a cool nature event occurs downtown this time of year. For just a few more nights, chimney swifts form a black tornado at 8:00 and fly down the chimney at 8:20 at the Grove Arcade dowtown. This should last a few more nights, and it's early this year. The swifts are on their migration and always stop over a few nights at the Grove Arcade. So...go downtown for a glass of wine, dinner, dessert or just a stroll around and enjoy the sight of these birds. I've seen it in years past and it looks like the chimney is vacuuming thousands of swifts. Don't miss it !!

Robert

Comment by Jason W. Hill on September 4, 2009 at 10:01pm

The bear was seen this morning at 8:10 A.M. walking down Buckingham Court.

Also keep your eyes to the sky as we head into September, Hawks are beginning to migrate. In particular Broad Wing hawks fly in groups that can reach the thousands. I have seen them many years from my backyard. If you hear birds putting up a racket look skyward. Having hundreds of raptors flyng over usually puts our smaller birds in panic mode.

A great place to observe this migration is South on the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Mills River Overlook, just this side of Mount Pisgah. Hawk "Watchers" are often posted up there many times in the early mornings taking counts. The middle of September is when the larger counts really begin. These groups of hawks will form "kettles" as they circle gaining altitude...really amazing to see ! Also at this same time our Monarch butterflies can be seen migrating Southward. Early morning and late afternoon seem to be the best times for hawks. Take a lawn chair, binos and a thermos of coffee.
Robert