Did the smith point hawk watch today after getting a late start due to a
closed interstate and a police action on the round-about route.
Heard odd calls that sounded crane like and Bob spotted 2 adult whooping
cranes whooping it up as they headed across the bay. First ones I have ever
seen away from their usual wintering grounds.
It was a spectacular day at the tower although the change in the wind later
in the pm slowed things down a bit with only 160 turkey vultures in the
last group.
Birds were going by and over almost all day. A slow time would last 2 or 3
minutes.
Had 700 plus broad-winged hawks and a last group of over 250 could have
been new or already counted birds and would have beaten the old record from
Saturday.
Over 1,000 turkey vultures and the 60+? red-tailed hawks also said the
record for any one day count over the years.
A couple of red-shouldered hawks, a peregrine falcon, northern harriers ,
cooper's hawks, sharp-shinned hawks and a couple of kestrels kept things
moving up there.
The usual water birds continued with wood storks, anhingas, white ibis and
white pelicans.
Swallows continued with the bulk seen in large flocks of 500-1,000 birds.
Maybe 7 of these. And there were individual swallows still going by the
tower.
Heard a couple of hermit thrushes and a song sparrow for my first for the
fall. Flocks of goldfinches without any siskins wandering around. Heard a
couple of bluebirds and American pipits.
Walked out to the northwest motte and found 2 spotted towhees in the same
spot where a couple were 4 years ago. Only a couple of yellow-rumped and
orange-crowned warblers. No scissor-tails but a few eastern phoebes.
For the second year in a row the end of the count and the days right after
the end have been spectacular.
It was a little cold on the tower with strong wind but the temperature was
only 37. Good sleet yesterday in Anahuac. Stayed cold all day. Tomorrow may
be colder according to the TV.
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
