By Susan Heath Believe it or not, it’s time to start monitoring the American Oystercatchers for nesting activity. This year we’ll be monitoring the birds in West Galveston Bay and East Matagorda Bay once a week. We’ll be putting nanotags on 10 adults and 5 chicks so we can track their movements using our new Motus tower network. This project … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/15/16 (148 raptors)
Well that’s a wrap folks. The last day of the hawk watch was today. Bob, Tad, Joe and I had nice day enjoying the last of the birds for this year’s total. Seems like we should keep going a bit since we had so many birds today but alas, it is not to be. We waited all day in vain … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/14/16 (84 raptors)
It’s slowing down folks. Tomorrow is the last day of the hawk watch! Bob enjoyed watching some shorebirds mucking about in the mud today and an adult Bald Eagle is always a treat. Broad-winged Hawk 11 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Cooper’s Hawk 2 Turkey Vulture 52 Northern Harrier 12 Bald Eagle 1
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/13/16 (23 raptors)
An overcast day without a lot of activity. Bob reports lots of robins and some close loons in the bay. Broad-winged Hawk 10 Red-tailed Hawk 4 Swainson’s Hawk 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Cooper’s Hawk 1 American Kestrel 1 Northern Harrier 3
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/11/16 (224 raptors)
A great day with a non-migrating adult Bald Eagle, lots of Sandhill Cranes, and over 1000 Greater White-fronted Geese. This is the last weekend of the hawk watch (it ends next Tuesday) so if you haven’t gotten your fix you better go visit Bob this weekend! Broad-winged Hawk 45 Red-tailed Hawk 11 Swainson’s Hawk 9 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 White-tailed Hawk … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/10/16 (148 raptors)
Bob reports no birds of note but decent raptors Broad-winged Hawk 31 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Swainson’s Hawk 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 Cooper’s Hawk 4 Turkey Vulture 90 Black Vulture 2 American Kestrel 1 Merlin 1 Northern Harrier 8
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/9/16 (133 raptors)
Tad reports a weird weather day with north winds all day but constantly changing skies. Birds of the day were seven Snow Geese that flew low over the tower very early. Broad-winged Hawk 23 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Swainson’s Hawk 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 Cooper’s Hawk 22 Turkey Vulture 57 American Kestrel 2 Merlin 1 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 6 White-tailed … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/8/16 (3 raptors)
A foggy and overcast day with little bird movement. American Kestrel 1 Northern Harrier 2
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/7/16 (52 raptors)
Another slow day but not as bad as yesterday! Broad-winged Hawk 8 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 Cooper’s Hawk 4 Turkey Vulture 8 American Kestrel 5 Peregrine Falcon 2 Northern Harrier 16
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/6/16 (9 raptors)
A very slow day with lots of cloud cover and some rain. The bird of the day was a Common Loon. American Kestrel 1 Northern Harrier 8
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/5/16 (184 raptors)
A pretty good day with lots more white-fronted geese and the first Sandhill Cranes of the season (3). Broad-winged Hawk 39 Red-tailed Hawk 9 Swainson’s Hawk 12 White-tailed Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 Cooper’s Hawk 12 Turkey Vulture 80 Black Vulture 6 American Kestrel 2 Peregrine Falcon 2 Merlin 1 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 10 White-tailed Kite 1
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/4/16 (141 raptors)
A great day. Lots of waterfowl moving through and the bird of the day, an adult Ferruginous Hawk! Broad-winged Hawk 11 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Swainson’s Hawk 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 Cooper’s Hawk 7 Turkey Vulture 96 Black Vulture 5 American Kestrel 3 Peregrine Falcon 1 Merlin 1 Northern Harrier 7 Photo by Jason Bojczyk from 2011.