[texbirds] Smith Point pictures from last week

From: Joseph Kennedy <josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx>
To: 4 Texbirds Maillist <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2014 06:48:08 -0500
I was out at the hawk watch last Tuesday and Sunday. Not a whole lot of
hawks either day despite forecasts that said there should be birds. The
forecasts and weather did not cooperate very well in fact.
By Sunday the rains of a week earlier had hatched a really good mosquito
crop and migrating dragonflies were in great numbers as seen in this
picture of a Turkey vulture. They were up high which would have made for
lots of eating by hawks if there had been hawks

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/157551728

There were hawks around. Ospreys are bringing fish into the east motte for
dining

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/157551730

Most of the accipiters seen on Sunday appeared to be just wandering around

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/157551725

A broad-winged hawk was my second with a nice round hole in the wing

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/157551723

Waterbirds in the area make it interesting without hawks. Early Sunday
morning there were 37 American oystercatchers scavenging out near Robbins
Park. Two new banded birds X0 and X7 made a total of 6 birds banded by
GCBO. The two birds were paired this last summer but did not nest but
practiced at playing house. Apparently most oystercatchers here do not
actually lay eggs etc until the 4th year.

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/157622604

Both were banded as chicks in 2011 in west Galveston bay and Dickinson bay.
X9 joined its nest mate Y0 this fall and they trotted around together.

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/157622604

Y0 has been there since at least last fall and never left during the
summer. It was a pariah until recently and always chased by other
oystercatchers who did not want to share their food or space. Recently Y0
has integrated into the flock.

Lots of white ibis were overhead including some very large flocks on
Sunday. They start migrating before the hawk watch opens on August 1 and
some are still moving at the end on November 15.

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/157551742

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/157551739

http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/157551736

The ibis usually are flying when going over and head out toward Robbins
Park where they cross over to Laporte. Anhingas soar more like hawks, form
kettles and even join hawks etc in thermals.

The 2 white pelicans that summered at Robbins Park were still there Sunday
afternoon without any friends and no birds are roosting on the island west
of the park so far this season.

Driving down 562, the osprey that has roosted on the side of the road for
several years in a dead tree is back but had to get a new tree to replace
the one that fell over the summer. More vultures are joining the roost in
the area too.

Two interesting hummers were present. One bird had had its rear end chomped
removing all the tail feathers as well as upper and lower coverts and
damaging other feathers. It got around well without a back end. Another
bird had colorless head feathers.

There was some smoke out to the west from a small fire a little before I
left the tower for the day. Apparently one of the hay bales in a feeder for
the horses spontaneously combusted in the wet hot hay and the bale burned
slowly. One horse stayed in the smoke to keep off the mosquitoes?

Very bad air out there on Sunday. Sinuses still have not recovered and I
cannot really go outside since. Need a wind change to blow the pollen,
smoke or whatever elsewhere.


-- 
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx


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[texbirds] Smith Point pictures from last week

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