[texbirds] Hawk watch Saturday pictures, more dark broad-wings, swainson's, peregrines and oystercatchers
- From: Joseph Kennedy <josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: 4 Texbirds Maillist <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 08:35:15 -0500
As usual as of late, the bird of the day was a dark p-word broad-winged
hawk that came by the tower several times.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122787
Unlike other birds this one stayed low and banked to show its topside which
was not all dark having one white feather
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122783
After the first pass, the bird perched back in the northeast motte for a
good while but only part of the back could be seen from the tower. At some
point, it left and later in the day passed over coming from the west when
it gave the best views. When last seen, it was heading far out Hawkins Camp
Road where turkey vultures were kettling but not crossing
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122781
There were plain old broad-wings around too with early birds crossing the
bay but later birds lingering for another day
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122780
Just a bit after sunrise, a few swainson's hawks got up from where they
roosted on the ground and hunted from cool and damp grounded dragonflies.
This bird appeared to be contemplating its navel
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122766
I sat beside him for a good bit but the only exercise the bird did was turn
its head. There was a small pile of bug parts and leaves next to its feet
on the post so it had been active after getting to the post
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122763
A young of the year peregrine falcon spent most of the morning sitting in a
dead tree out toward the northwest motte. Again it did turn its head when
scolded by sedge wrens and Lincoln's sparrows but did not take any action
against the pests
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122760
It posed well for all people driving into and leaving the tower
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122761
A young of the year bald eagle headed for the tower but headed off into the
west without anyone leaving the tower and attracting it. The bird went
north along Trinity Bay, returned and was last seen trying to kettle up
with vultures but without much luck as they rose much faster
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122759
The American oystercatchers out at the park put on a great show of
springtime marching and piping since they will be at nest sites in just a
couple of months. Here are 2 of the banded birds together, possibly a
fickle mate that has hung out with each, one at a time
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122693
They all showed off their GCBO bands
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122697
They were joined by a wintering? whimbrels which is probably the bird that
wintered at the site last winter. Normally, whimbrels are in south America
by this time.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122691
White pelicans were the large water bird of the day
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122692
And rough-winged swallows remain the common swallow at the tower but not
necessarily at Robbins Park where tree and barn swallows are much commoner.
Here a rough-wing does the mystery bird pose
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153122690
All the pictures as well as older hawk watch pictures can be browsed at
http://upload.pbase.com/edit_gallery/joseph_kennedy_36/2013_hawk_watch_part_2
As well as at the Smith Point Hawk Watch Blog
http://smithpointhawkwatch.wordpress.com/
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
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