As has become almost usual over the last few years, more and more hawks and
other migrants are going by Smith Point weeks after the date of the last
bird years ago.
On the 14th, there were still lots of broad-winged hawks with over 1,000
birds counted. Combined with the birds from the 15th there were over 1,000
broad-wings.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436238
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436240
Lots of gyrations in the strong wind. It was a little surprising that fewer
birds than expected went over the bay without coming back.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436241
Some of the young of the year broad-wings have the adult tail pattern like
this bird
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436242
Good numbers of red-tailed hawks too
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436245
For several weeks, a large swarm of tree swallows fed out in front of the
tower
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436248
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436247
On the 14th with the wind, groups would break off and head out Hawkins Camp
and cross the bay but more birds came in to join the flock. The swallows
roosted in the little sewage pond and would perch up and wait for a little
warmth to get the bugs moving. And there have been lots of mosquitoes to
move.
Lots of turkey vultures were still heading south
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436251
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436250
Still a few wood storks moving by
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436255
And the birds of the day were two whooping cranes way up there
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436257
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436258
I heard them earlier and thought they were odd sounding sandhills which
were also about but Bob spotted the birds with black only at the end of the
wing that were not white pelicans.
The wind had died way down on the 15th and small birds were sitting up like
this house wren
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436264
Several scissor-tailed flycatchers were still roosting and were out on the
fences early. Most of the bugs they caught were on the ground
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436270
The tails are at the maximum length now
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436268
Again, the tree swallow swarm was out in front of the tower
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436271
white pelican flocks were around much of the day
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436272
A few black vultures joined the turkey vultures
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436295
A cooper's hawk out Hawkins Camp Road showed off the tail
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436298
And back
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436300
But the little birds stayed in deep cover
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436296
Several bald eagles with different feather wear were seen several times and
did not seem to go anywhere
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436314
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436315
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436320
Two dark red-tailed hawks were among the 186 red-tails for the day which
was more than most season's counts
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436329
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436330
The 260 red-tails for the two days did beat the season records
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436332
Later another dark red-tail circled with a regular plumaged bird but my
clicking the camera did not quite get them side by side
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436337
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436336
The wind shifted several times and so the hawks stayed out a ways when it
moved toward the south
But then they were back when it shifted to the north again
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436340
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436338
Lots of different shades of color on the birds
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436343
And the hawks even met with the tree swallows
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/168436345
Spectacular ending for the hawk count and it is already less than 8 months
to the 1029 count.
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
