[texbirds] Smith Point hawk watch today
- From: Joseph Kennedy <josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: 4 Texbirds Maillist <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:34:07 -0500
The best bird of the day was the already reported pine siskin which is
probably the first of the fall here. There is a major invasion heading this
way on the tail of the nuthatches which are irrupting for the same food
source failure as they eat the same seeds. Record numbers are passing hawk
watch sites up north.
The interesting thing is that I have had a single siskin from the tower
almost every year (missed Ike) during the same week. One of those was the
only one I saw or heard of for the season and the other was another single
for the winter for me. Had 2 red-breasted nuthatches from the tower too,
one flyby and one tooting.
A single western kingbird but only a few scissor-tails with 41 along
Hawkins Camp about 10:30 with half gone at 2pm. A single sprague's pipit
opposite Linda Street. Lots of shorebirds at the shell mounds before hawks
with the usual 13 american oystercatchers waiting for new shells.
A single rufous hummingbird was at the feeders and was a different bird
than the monday birds unless they grow epaulet feathers very fast. A
scattering of other migrants but the lawn mowers kept the birds a little
wary. The mower said there were several coveys of bobwhites further north
in the tract in the longer vegetation.
A good scattering of hawks and vultures with birds moving all day. The only
problem was that more seemed to come back from the bay at times than the
number that started out over the bay. Missed the regular mississippi kites
and merlins but bald eagle, peregrine and white-tailed hawk kept up the
interest. Lots of accipiters and kestrels mostly way up there and more
swainson's hawks than have been around.
The strong north winds did not arrive until just about sunrise when the 78
degree temperature started to drop. Clouds never cleared all day but were
high enough not to bother the hawks but no large groups of them either. The
late arrival of the front and the little rain to the north of the peninsula
until shortly before dawn probably kept down the number of passerine
arrivals. Only one savannah sparrow compared to the good numbers on Monday
for example.
But as usual a great birding day.
--
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx
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