If you are going to the hawk watch this season you need to see dark broad-winged hawks. And Sunday was no different with a different bird than the one that came by on Thursday. It is disappointing that there was only one and not dozens as has been the norm just a bit ago. Note that this bird has un-notched wings http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348368 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348363 There were several dozen normally plumaged broad-winged hawks over the tower too. There is a lot of variation in their plumage too but one does not have much time to look if there are hundreds or thousands going by. Birds with very plain bellies are not common http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348358 This is a more normal bird but still on the lightly marked side http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348359 And then there are heavily marked birds like this one http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348357 And the most marked with the biggest marks http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348355 A nascent thermal off the parking lot in the am brought the birds right over the tower http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348356 The normal young hawk has many relatively small stripes on the tail but a few birds have the heavy black and white stripes on the tail http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348351 Most cooper's hawks over the tower recently have been adults but there were 3 youngsters feeding on seaside type sparrows in the pm. At least one bird fed but the others tried and were perched on poles at each of the best sparrow spots out near the park. They got wet when they dove into the grass after the sparrows http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348332 This is a good mystery bird pose showing the tail feathers the differing lengths making the rounded tail of the cooper's hawk. Note the white flank feathers puffed out at the base of the tail which is another good mark on the flying birds. http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348329 Some of the red-tailed hawks have plumage problems on arrival http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348327 The first kettle of birds I saw this fall from the tower back at the first of August was white pelicans and one of the last kettles was also white pelicans http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348322 As can be seen here, the sedge wren is one of the commonest singers in the area especially where a little scrub is located in damper areas http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348305 A whole group of wrens was in the patch and the sedge and house wrens interacted with each other. However the house wrens did not perch up for pictures http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348303 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348301 Lots of preening too and the called while preening http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348297 There were still 5 species of swallows around the sewage ponds and tower. Most are now trees but the others were commoner out in the marsh. Only one cliff swallow was on the wires and is the first I have seen in a couple of weeks http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348291 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348288 Common yellowthroats were in the wren patch http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348282 And the bug of the day was the buckeye butterflies http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/153348280 Lots more pictures including swallows at http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/2013_hawk_watch_part_2 And news of the hawk watch is at http://smithpointhawkwatch.wordpress.com/ -- 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