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Photography and story by Matt Gentry | The Roanoke Times.

See an audio slideshow of the hawk watchers.

The air is getting cooler and the sky is a deep blue.

You can feel autumn in the air.

The birds feel it, too. And a dramatic natural event is happening. Birds and insects are flying south along the Appalachian mountain chain to warmer climates and more abundant food sources.

Broad-wing Hawks are the most common winged migrant and can number into the thousands in a single day. Red-tail Hawks often fly overhead as well as migrating Sharp Shined and Cooper's hawks. Then there are the falcons, a rare peregrine, kestrel and merlin, some of the fastest flying birds in the world can sometimes be spotted. Of course it’s always a thrill to see an American bald eagle, majestically flying above the mountain tops.

Birdwatchers come to see the annual autumn bird migration pass through Southwest Virginia. That is what a group of about 20 birdwatchers from the New River Valley Bird Club and Ferrum Nature Society did on a Saturday in early September.

Local birdwatcher and mountaintop host Clyde Kessler has been watching the fall migration from atop Rocky Knob off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 168 in Floyd County since the 1970s. He has the records to prove it. Not only does he watch and identify birds, he counts them, too.

It’s not only the hawks that catch the eye of birdwatchers at Rocky Knob. They are also watching migrating song birds, hummingbirds, butterflies and dragonflies. What ever flies by usually gets noticed. Hawks are cataloged and reported to the Hawk Migration Association of North America. Birdwatchers, experienced and beginners, are welcome to join in the fun most every weekend through October. Kessler recommends bringing binoculars, a chair, food and water -- and a warm jacket.

The air is getting cooler.

Teamwork played a vital role in Virginia Tech's home victory last Saturday over Nebraska. Each player worked together in the waning moments to ensure a win.  However, the Hokies and the Huskers were not the only teams competing on Worsham Field in Lane Stadium over the weekend.  The Roanoke Times photography department had three photographers (Kyle Green, Matt Gentry and myself, Jared Soares) working together to ensure optimal coverage of the game between the two nationally-ranked squads.

MATT GENTRY/ The Roanoke Times Tyrod Taylor, 5, throws a touchdown pass to Dyrell Roberts with 21 seconds left, past Pierre Allen of Nebraska at the end of the Virginia Tech - Nebraska football game in Blacksburg, Va.

After three and a half quarters, the game appeared as if it were going to yield a pedestrian photo report, but the last 90 seconds proved this photographer's hypothesis incorrect. Virginia Tech drove down the field and, with 21 seconds left, took the lead from Nebraska with a touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor to Dyrell Roberts.

KYLE GREEN | The Roanoke Times Virginia Tech football player, Dyrell Roberts (right, #11), catches the winning touchdown with 21 seconds left on the clock in the fouth quarter against Nebraska football player, Prince Amukamara (left, #21), during the game at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia on Saturday. Virginia Tech defeated Nebraska 16-15.

Just as the Virginia Tech offense worked together to capture a win, in the fourth quarter against Nebraska, The Roanoke Times photo staff cooperated to document the effort by Tyrod and company. Kyle Green was positioned in the south endzone awaiting a big play. Matt Gentry was closer to the line of scrimmage on the VT bench side,  focused on Tyrod Taylor. And I was on the opposite side of the field looking for fan reactions. All three of us documented pivotal moments in the game, allowing readers to get the best game-day coverage.

JARED SOARES/The Roanoke Times Virginia Tech fans celebrate in front of a dejected Nebraska fan (center) after a fourth quarter touchdown by Dyrell Roberts during Saturday afternoon's game between Virginia Tech and Nebraska at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech defeated Nebraska 16-15 in Blacksburg.

To see a complete gallery of last Saturday's game click here.

“I feel so alive,” proclaimed 8-year-old Brandon Buchanan as he prepared to run down a plank of overturned kayaks floating in the pool.

Brandon was one of six participants at the “Kids and Kayaks” course taught by Montgomery County Parks and Recreation at the Frog Pond  pool.

Brad Buchanan , the county’s parks and outdoor supervisor, teaches  youngsters boating fundamentals through instruction and playing games.

“You get the paddles in their hands,” said  Buchanan, who is Brandon’s father. “It’s cool to see the smiles, and their eyes get real big when they start figuring stuff out, and that really is the best part.”

The students learn about the parts of the boats and the different types of boating gear.

“It’s intimidating flipping a kayak upside down for the first time. Once you realize how easy it is getting out of the boat the right way, it takes a lot of fear out of it,” the instructor told the class.

After learning how to get in and out of their boats safely,  the children played some kayak games.

Buchanan said whitewater kayaking can be addictive once you learn the basics.

“It’s just being out on the water and seeing the birds … you get out on the New [River] in the summertime, and the water is crystal green. You look down and see the fish swimming below you. The waves, the bottom, the cobblestones  — just seeing that is really cool.”

-- By Matt Gentry

Matt Gentry is a Blacksburg native and has been a member of The Roanoke Times photography staff for 10 years.

Summer Moments will publish each Monday through the end of August. Got an idea for the photo column? E-mail natalee.waters@roanoke.com.