The hawkwatch on Sunday continued the huge flight of broad-winged hawks from Saturday but with a measly 3,500 or so birds for the latter half of October. And there were 30 dark phase broad-winged hawks in the mix although only 29 were counted. My last bird decided to spend the night and would be counted when he left. All kettles and groups of hawks had dark birds with a total of 6 seen at one time in one of the later pm kettles when the group banked perfectly in the sun letting the dark birds not shine forth when the white birds did shine. Lots of other hawks too but when there are twice as many dark broad-wings as kestrels, harriers or swainson's hawks up in the air, there has to be something wrong with the hawk migration schedule. This was the late pm dark bird http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153031116 This morning kettle had 2 dark birds in it. More like late September than the actual date http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153031108 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153031110 The dark birds in this kettle were easier to find http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153031112 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153031113 As they were here in the pm sun http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153031114 A broad-wing with injured wings often shows up later in the season and also can be a marker for a kettle when wondering if those birds had passed earlier. Note that the new feathers growing in both wings are white rather than the normal color http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153031107 Most young broad-wings have tails with many plain bands http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153031106 But others have the well marked tail bands of adult birds http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153031103 This red-tailed hawk was on the poles at the wildlife area entrance where many birds perch when they arrive. It will be the end of the month when there are good numbers of them at the tower http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153030930 Cooper's hawks are one of the standby birds of the tower but in lower numbers this year http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153030928 Birds in the pm especially have full crops having also enjoyed the land bird migrants http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153030927 The abundant swallow migrant at this point in the season is the rough-winged swallow http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153030924 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153030926 I was able to add the eastern phoebe to the vermilion flycatcher to my list of birds perching on my car antenna while in the hawk watch parking lot http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153030923 Blackbirds form a ball in the air when threatened by hawks http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153030835 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153030834 Until they can make a break for cover. Before Ike, there was a large line of pine trees down near the east end of Candy Abshier that was used by blackbirds to roost and rest. When they actually left the trees and balled up, was a sure sign of peregrine falcons down there that could come on past the tower. There were still a few dickcissels over the tower and warblers out front. A walk through the northwest motte had both swainson's and broad-winged hawks feeding on cold dragonflies picked from the ground. Passing accipiters had cleared out the shorebirds at Robbins Park and vicinity. The area of the bridge near the park had lots of seaside and nelson's sparrows willing to perch up when squeaked at. The seasides had a good nesting season. A first of the season white-crowned sparrow at the tower. One spurt of scissor-tails left early that had roosted west of the tower and gathered on the fences and power lines. One of the best days of the year at the tower. Would have done Saturday too but had flat tires to tend to as the car would not have gone far otherwise. I did watch a caracara hunt rock pigeons while I waited but no hawks overhead out 290 in northwest Houston. -- Joseph C. Kennedy on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner
