Sunday was the big eagle day at smith point with both species and several bald eagles ranging from dark birds http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103574 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103568 To a white-headed bird that showed up while my camera battery was dead http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103491 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103487 And many plumages in between http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103485 Lots of white in the wing http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103476 Big feet http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103478 And top views http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103472 Just great eagles http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103463 And then the second golden eagle of the season also at no battery time http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103250 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103249 the dark broad-winged hawk was my first of the season http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103233 but never came in real close http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103240 But put on a good show http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103238 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103236 Along with lots of regular broad-wings http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103232 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103231 Including sitting birds http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103226 And the floppy winged bird http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103225 And this bird that needed a second look http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103227 Most of the cooper's hawks are small males overhead but birds hunting in the woods are females http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103199 they stop and hunt as they go http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103202 This bird has its white flank feathers fluffed. These show on many of the passing birds as white at the rump like a harrier http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103200 this crested caracara is probably a local bird http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103197 Some red-shouldered hawks are migrating but are hard to tell from the local birds http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103193 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103189 More male northern harriers are starting to show up after all females and young birds earlier in the season http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103188 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103182 But there are still brown birds up there http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103181 It was the best day for red-tailed hawks so far http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103112 They give top as well as bottom views http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103110 And a good chance to count as the plumage varies so much http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103104 And another good swainson's hawk day http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103096 And variation from light http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103089 to dark http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103085 End on http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103091 With a jaeger look http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103092 and formation flying http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147103084 The hawks were joined by white-fronted geese http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147099446 white pelicans http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147099443 sandhill cranes http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147099442 double crested cormorants http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147099437 and blue angels http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147099436 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147099434 and dragonflies and monarch butterflies who did not always mix well http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147099440 The eastern phoebe wave gave good looks http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147099405 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147099403 And mystery bird poses http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147099402 And the savannah sparrows were along the fences in fresh plumage http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147099410 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/147099406 Lots more hawks and eagles can be browsed from http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/2012_hawk_watch_part_2 and phoebes etc at http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/inbox -- 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