I spent last Saturday and Tuesday at Smith point for the last weekend and
day of the hawk watch. Best end of season for many years probably related
to the late arrival of many species and low number this year compared to
the past. Both days had lots of northern harriers and a changeover of
red-tailed hawks.
North winds forecast on both days did not occur as predicted at the point.
Going home on both days the wind was out of the north and strong. Not sure
what it is that changes winds like that at the point unless the bay acts as
a funnel and the wind is diverted out though the pass and so rounds the
point. Eastish on Saturday and westish on Tuesday kept most of the birds
well out from the tower.
On Saturday, a nice bunch of sparrows and wrens were in a salt cedar clump
out near Robbins Park
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542032
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542034
Later in the day they were gone. Lots of bluebirds high overhead calling
but I never saw any.
Other water birds included white pelicans with one group flying with the
feet down
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542038
and white-faced ibis heading east. Almost all the dark ibis I see from the
tower are going east while the white ibis are going the opposite direction
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542039
Broad-winged hawks continue to pass
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542043
As did cooper's hawks
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542044
Lots of northern harriers, almost all brown birds
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542048
The two young red-shouldered hawks have been around all season but the
parents vanished way back in the season. They have learned to call like
adults after a couple of weeks of squeaking instead
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542049
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542051
Lots of variety in the red-tailed hawks with a couple looking rather krideri
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542059
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542068
Many were distinctive during the day
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542070
This is the only one I saw with prominent wing panels
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542071
And my last swainson's hawk of the season was very bedraggled
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542075
Migrating turkey vultures have a distinctive way of stacking in kettles
from feeding or wandering local birds
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542085
The large flocks in the morning were almost all young of the year while a
later group was almost all adult birds
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542087
Birds in kettle do collide. These two bounced when they hit. Not sure the
picture is just before or after the bounce
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542089
Saturday had the peak daily count of northern harriers for the season with
37 birds
Most were brown
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542098
But a gray ghost fed over the drive
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542097
and a brown bird in front of the tower
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542100
One harrier really harassed a red-tailed hawk, hitting it at least 3 times
I had it in the scope and binoculars
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542093
And kept coming back for more
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542094
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542095
At the time, the first hit appeared to be on the wing and tore a feather
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542109
But a picture of the bird an hour or so earlier in the day showed the bad
feather then
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542110
Again lots of plumage variation in the red-tails
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542106
Lots more hawk watch pictures from the season at
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/2016_hawk_watch
Stopped at Anahuac Wildlife Refuge for a bit before going down to the
point. Rough-winged swallows roosted on the wires by the refuge parking area
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542006
Neotropic cormorants had breeding plumage as some do nest in winter
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542004
It would take a long time for a great blue heron to preen at this rate
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542002
Lots of coots also known as eagle food have arrived. Note the adult common
gallinule in back of the coot who has extra white feathers
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164541997
A young gallinule with a nearby family group with 2 adults shares the
feathering and indicating possible gene flow between the 2 families
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164542000
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/164541998
More Anahuac and newer pictures in
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/inbox
And it is only 8 and a half months to the 2017 hawk watch.
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
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