[texbirds] GCBO Smith Point hawk count, 26 October

From: Tony leukering <greatgrayowl@xxxxxxx>
To: "texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 08:44:13 -0500
Hi all:
With it currently raining buckets here, I find myself with some time to report 
yesterday's results.

An early clear sky gave way to a lovely scattering of puffy white with NE wind, 
a good recipe for hawks to count!  Unfortunately, the wind started swinging 
more E and then (toll the bells) S.

A juvenile dark-morph Broad-winged Hawk put on a couple of appearances, even 
landing in NE Motte!  However, it perched with its back to the tower and was 
mostly hidden by vegetation.  Ah, well.  However, photos showed that it was an 
individual different from all those that I'd previously photographed here (see 
http://smithpointhawkwatch.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/dark-morph-broad-winged-hawks/),
 with a notch in a right-side rectrix and extensive brown streaking on its 
black underparts.  The juvenile Peregrine Falcon from the 25th perched in one 
of the snags iff to the W for most of the morning, allowing for much ogling by 
a visiting school group.  Joe kicked up a juvenile light Broad-winged that then 
perched in the same snag with the Peregrine!

Raptors counted:
Turkey Vulture - 63
Osprey - 2
Northern Harrier - 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 21
Cooper's Hawk - 19
Bald Eagle - 1 (juvenile; sorry, Marcy!)
Broad-winged Hawk - 172
Swainson's Hawk - 7
Red-tailed Hawk - 1 (adult)
American Kestrel - 32
Total - 333

Another 526 American White Pelicans flew by (in 23 flocks), continuing the 
excellent recent showing.  However, nary a goose, swan, or duck made it on to 
the day's list (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S15497756).  The 
four Ruby-throated Hummers tarrying at the tower included the continuing very 
late adult male.  Neither of the previous day's Black-chinned Hummers put in an 
appearance.  A Lark Sparrow was the first that I'd seen here since September 
and my only sparrow of the day; Joe saw a second Lark Sparrow.  The Blue Jay 
flight has slowed to a trickle, but meadowlarks continue to fly past, though 
most get by unidentified to species.

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, 26 October

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