Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/24/19 (12 raptors)

Bob reports 12 migrating raptors today. Broad-winged Hawk 5 Swainson’s Hawk 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Mississippi Kite 2 Swallow-tailed Kite 1 Joe Kennedy helped out today. Thanks Joe! Also seen were 8 Olive-sided Flycatchers (!), 6 Common Nighthawks and some Roseate Spoonbills.

Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/22/19 (25 raptors)

Bob reports 25 migrating raptors today. Broad-winged Hawk 6 Swainson’s Hawk 3 Cooper’s Hawk 2 Mississippi Kite 10 Swallow-tailed Kite 2 White-tailed Kite 2 Also first of the season Wood Storks (2) and Anhingas (7). Thanks to Sara Harrison who helped out today!

Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/21/19 (16 raptors)

Bob reports 16 migrating raptors today. Broad-winged Hawk 5 Swainson’s Hawk 5 Cooper’s Hawk 2 Mississippi Kite 3 Swallow-tailed Kite 1 The highlight of the day was four Olive-sided Flycatchers sitting up on the various perches sticking above the oak mottes. Smith Point is the best place I know to see an Olive-sided Flycatcher in the fall. They just love … Read More

Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/20/19 (21 raptors)

Tad reports 21 migrating raptors today. Broad-winged Hawk 2 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Mississippi Kite 1 Swallow-tailed Kite 16 Marvin Masters and Tad Finnell had the watch today giving Bob his day off. Storms systems surrounded the tower most of the day but very little rain fell. Highlight was the first group of nine Swallow-tailed Kites coming in … Read More

Smith Point Hawk Watch 9/19/19 (6 raptors)

Bob reports 6 migrating raptors today. Broad-winged Hawk 1 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Swallow-tailed Kite 3 White-tailed Kite 1 First White-tailed Kite of the season but the three Swallow-tails in the sky together was the highlight. Still need a 21 inch tv for the trailer so Bob can watch football this fall! Anybody?

Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/17/19 (17 raptors)

Bob reports 17 migrating raptors today. Swainson’s Hawk 6 Cooper’s Hawk 1 Mississippi Kite 4 Swallow-tailed Kite 5 Northern Harrier 1 Strong south winds retarded the flight but 19 flyover Wilson’s Phalaropes and a single Dickcissel were nice fall migrants. Thanks to Joe Kennedy for his help today and for visitor’s David Sarkozi and John Berner.

Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/16/19 (29 raptors)

Slow day after the big start yesterday. Only 29 birds today. Broad-winged Hawk 20 Swainson’s Hawk 3 Mississippi Kite 3 Swallow-tailed Kite 2 Osprey 1 Bob reports the tv in the trailer is on the fritz. Any one want to donate a small one to his cause?

Smith Point Hawk Watch 8/15/19 (737 raptors)

Well we’re off to a great start! Bob counted 737 raptors on the first day of the count. Broad-winged Hawk 15 Swainson’s Hawk 2 Mississippi Kite 716 Swallow-tailed Kite 4 Other birds included a couple of local Cooper’s Hawks, a local Red-shouldered Hawk, three Magnificent Frigatebirds and lots of White Ibis. Come on down and enjoy the count!

GCBO Bird of the Month – Wood Stork

Geography/Habitat: Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) is uncommon to locally common post breeding summer visitor to the Texas coast and inland to the eastern third of the state. West of the I-35 corridor, they are very rare due to the lack of wetland areas. A few may stay the winter in the South Texas Brush country. Half a century ago, Wood … Read More