[texbirds-freelists] [texbirds] Bentsen Hawk Watch 4/10/12 - over 14,000 total hawks for the day

From: Javier Deleon <Javier.Deleon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:54:56 -0500
Texbirders,

 

A great morning for Broad-winged Hawks today.  Many many kettles with at least 
1,000 birds in them were seen in all directions around the park starting at 
8:30 am through at least 10:30am.   Many birds seen after 10:30am were smaller 
groups streaming north at speed.

 

By the end of the morning the hawk watch volunteers ended up with a total of 
14,259 Broadwings between 8am and 12pm.  Other species of raptors seen this 
morning included:

 

Black Vutlure - 4

Turkey Vulture - 561

Swainson's Hawks - 27

Osprey - 2

Crested Caracara - 2

American Kestrel - 1

Mississippi Kite - 3

Northern Harrier - 2

Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1

Cooper's Hawk - 3

 

Total for today = 14,865

 

Other bird activity around the park is typical for this time of year.  Ringed 
Kingfisher was not seen today, but has been pretty regular at the Kingfisher 
Overlook as has the Green Kingfisher.  Two Altamira Orioles have been tending a 
nest near the Ebony Grove. If you are hoping to watch the Orioles at their 
nest, please be aware that there are several Golden-fronted Woodpeckers and 
Great Kiskadees nesting in the same vicinity.  Northern Beardless-tyrannulets 
have been calling near the park's boat ramp.  If you run into any birds at a 
nest at Bentsen (or anywhere) please GIVE THE BIRDS SPACE.  Even if you 
reeeeaaaallllly want to get a close picture, it is always best for the bird if 
you watch from a distance (the longer the distance the better!).

 

Hook-billed Kites have been making recent appearances at the Hawk Tower with 
sightings over four consecutive days in early April.  The last time any of them 
were seen was on Sunday morning at 11:00am from the Hawk Tower. A male and 
female Hook-billed Kite flew over the tower and headed south.  These are hard 
birds to find!  

 

There have not been any obvious nest sites for Elf Owl this spring.  Several 
Elf Owls can be heard at night throughout the park. Eastern Screech Owls and 
Common Pauraques are numerous, but most of these birds have been heard calling 
from 8:10pm to about 8:30pm before resuming their calling much later in the 
evening.

 

If you are planning to visit Bentsen, be aware that the tram schedule has 
changed for this season.  Trams are now running once an hour from 7:30am - 
4:30pm.  Also feeding stations have been reduced as there has been very little 
activity at feeders since mid-March.  The only feeding stations that are 
currently being filled are at the Nature Center, Green Jay Blind and Kiskadee 
Blind.  

 

Bird walks are currently scheduled on Fridays and Sundays from 8:30am - 
10:30am. Join us!

 

Best,

 

Javier de León

Natural Resource Specialist

Bentsen - Rio Grande Valley State Park

World Birding Center

2800 South Bentsen Palm Drive 

Mission, TX 78572

956-584-9156

Learn how you can help Texas State Parks: <http://bit.ly/sVdilb 
<http://bit.ly/sVdilb> >

 


TEXBIRDS help file and Texas birding links at: 
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[texbirds-freelists] [texbirds] Bentsen Hawk Watch 4/10/12 - over 14,000 total hawks for the day

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