Last night I posted that after a great day at the tower on saturday with
over 21,000 hawks it might be possible to have a good day on sunday with
the good north wind continuing
There actually was a good day on sunday with the best day ever at the tower
going back to year one with 45,847 hawks. Broad-wings totalled 44,729 with
a reasonable guess at 45 dark phase birds. The top count in the past was
28,115 so it was a big jump. The 616 sharp-shinned hawks seem great but was
small compared to a couple of past daily counts over 1000.
Almost all hawks seen but osprey. Did not have much time for other birds
but there were lots of swallows which I would have counted except for the
hawks.
Good groups of storks, anhinga and some ibis, pelicans and a couple of
geese.
Not to forecast again, but the north winds will hold tomorrow and there
were 3 gatherings of turkey vultures not far up the road and a few
swainson's hawks. Winds will start shifting Tuesday but another front near
the end of next week will keep the birds moving over smith point.
I did take a look at hawkins camp road after I left candy abshier but it
was bare of birds after 700 hungry accipiters passed through and over.
The radar showed birds leaving over the bay and more importantly showed the
kettles of birds heading to the tower after they got high enough later in
the morning . Many arrived on schedule. a large burn to the east created
lots of smoke which also could be tracked by radar.
The count for the season is over 100,000 birds and I actually made the 3
best days after second-guessing myself in many past years.
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
