[texbirds] GCBO Smith Point hawk count, 23 October

From: Tony leukering <greatgrayowl@xxxxxxx>
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 20:30:03 -0500
Hi all:
'Twas a lovely day with the forecast light NE winds actually being light W 
winds.  That enabled the soaring birds to cross Trinity Bay on a roughly WNW 
heading.  That enabled me to be able to count them without so much fuss and 
bother of kettles working back and forth being supremely confusing.  On 
blue-sky days, that is a god-send.

With gobs of Broad-winged Hawks (BW) came more dark ones, 27 in all, for a 
year's total of 92, and we might, yet, tally a few more.  Also with the BWs 
were Swainson's Hawks, which put on their 2nd-best showing of the season, and 
Turkey Vultures, of which I "counted" 175.  It was also the best day of the 
season for Northern Harrier and Red-shouldered and Red-tailed hawks.  
Unfortunately, I again went Peregrine-less and still need just four to set a 
new seasonal record, and their season is almost done.  The biggest raptor 
surprise was the single juvenile Mississippi Kite that went by high in a BW 
kettle.  I had been thinking that I had seen the last one for the season.  
Maybe this one is the last one.

Raptors counted:
Black Vulture - 2
Turkey Vulture - 175
Osprey - 1
Mississippi Kite - 1 (juvenile)
Northern Harrier - 33 (7 adult females, 14 juveniles)
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 40
Cooper's Hawk - 133
Bald Eagle - 1 (3rd-year)
Red-shouldered Hawk - 5 (juveniles)
Broad-winged Hawk - 2120 (27 juvenile dark)
Swainson's Hawk - 55
Red-tailed Hawk - 5 (1 adult, 4 juveniles)
White-tailed Hawk - 1 (sub-adult)
American Kestrel - 17
Merlin - 2
Total - 2591

Despite the excellent hawk flight, big black-and-white waterbirds stole the 
show.  Four flocks of Wood Storks totaled 330, while 14 of American White 
Pelicans came to 650!  I was disappointed to neither see nor hear Sandhill 
Cranes and quite surprised to neither see nor hear geese.  Of any flavor.  The 
only surprise waterbird was an adult female Magnificent Frigatebird that buzzed 
the tower!  That's another species that any individual could be the season's 
last.

Landbirds were a bit skinny, but I notched a fly-by Yellow-billed Cuckoo; a 
fly-by juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that the Hansons found; three 
heard-only and one seen-and-heard Eastern Bluebird flyovers; a heard-only 
Dickcissel; and provided-seed foragers of a few Indigo Buntings, an age-unknown 
Lincoln's Sparrow, and an immature White-crowned Sparrow.  At least four 
Ruby-throated Hummers continue at the tower's feeders, with one being a very 
late adult male.

Enjoy,

Tony

Tony Leukering
Smith Point, TX
http://smithpointhawkwatch.wordpress.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tony_leukering/
http://www.aba.org/photoquiz/
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[texbirds] GCBO Smith Point hawk count, 23 October

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