I have added a few pictures from the last few days of the hawk watch from Smith Point. There are lots of good birds there other than the hawks although many of the hawks try their best to keep the other bird numbers down and many of the hawk people leave with full crops. Piping plovers use the unpaved part of the Robbins Park parking lot to roost and feed. They seem to be there more often when there is a good salt coat on the area. They seem to do well in finding things to eat on top of the salt coating. http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147363247 This bird came right up to the car http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147363246 My first wintering whimbrel in many years is using the oyster shell mound for a guaranteed food supply. The whimbrel is able to reach food that the other scavengers cannot reach http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147363244 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147363242 The 4 spotted towhees found on the last day of the hawk count were completely unexpected this far east and there have not been many others reported this winter. They called lots early in the day and some later but mainly stayed down in the cover http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147363237 This towhee was in the open but a little too close to focus http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147363238 White-crowned sparrows have been enjoying the bird seed http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147363235 Savannah sparrows have been in most places at the point http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147363233 A house wren at the tower has been singing for over a month http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147363231 Lots of eastern bluebirds going over the tower with a few stopping to feed http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147326001 The great horned owls have been hooting all season http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147326002 Tree swallows are the common late season swallows http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147326009 But there are still a few rough-winged swallows and barn swallows http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147326008 One of the rough-winged swallows has a little bit of a yeast infection http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147326007 American pipits have been arriving at the point and calling as they go by http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147325068 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147325067 The pictures and more can be browse at http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/inbox and http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/0_older_new_pictures -- 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
