By Susan Heath On Thursday I was joined by Alan Wilde and John Wright, awesome volunteers from Tiki Island, to survey West Galveston Bay and the Galveston shoreline up to Swan Lake by Texas City. The weather was beautiful for a change! There wasn’t much wind, the skies were blue, and the water was unusually clear. It was a little … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of February 22, 2021
By Susan Heath Well the news is good so just relax and read on. We weren’t able to go out last week because of the weather and everything associated with the weather. I was worried about the birds though so on Friday (19th) I emailed Kevin Somers who lives along the Galveston Island shoreline and asked him whether the pair … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of February 8, 2021
By Susan Heath I had to move my day with oystercatchers from Thursday to Wednesday because of the impending Arctic blast. That wouldn’t have been a big deal except I also had to go monitor Loggerhead Shrikes on Wednesday morning. The shrikes only take a couple of hours though so I figured Alan and I could make a mad dash … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2021: Week of January 25
By Susan Heath Well folks, it’s time again. I was alerted by Kevin Somers, a Galveston Island resident, that a pair of birds on Struve Luci island in West Galveston Bay might be incubating a nest on January 26. Kevin lives along the shoreline and has been keeping an eye on the birds. He was a great help last year … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/30/20 (56 raptors)
Bob reports 56 migrating raptors today. Turkey Vulture 30 Northern Harrier 2 Bald Eagle 6 Broad-winged Hawk 7 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 7 American Kestrel 2 Merlin 1 The wind was strong out of the NNW all day but two Wood Storks decided today was the day to move and they flew over the tower. Possibly the latest ones … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/29/20 (0 raptors)
Bob reports no migrating raptors today. The wind was strong out of the NW all day. There were some nice rafts of Red-breasted Mergansers and flights of white pelicans. Sara Harrison and Marvin Masters kept Bob company. Tomorrow is the last day of the count!
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/26/20 (6 raptors)
Bob reports six migrating raptors today. Northern Harrier 3 Cooper’s Hawk 1 Bald Eagle 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 There was a strong east wind all day and the skies were mostly overcast. Sara Harrison joined Bob on this Thanksgiving day.
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/25/20 (2 raptors)
Bob reports one migrating Cooper’s Hawk and one migrating Merlin today. The weather was excellent with moderate north winds. Highlight of the day was a pair of duetting Great Horned Owls.
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/24/20 (5 raptors)
Joe Kennedy report 5 migrating Northern Harriers today. Local raptors included a Crested Caracara, an American Kestrel, 2 Red-tailed Hawks and 4 Turkey Vultures. Other birds of note included 300 Red-breasted Mergansers, 300 Double-crested Cormorants, a fly by Common Loon, and a female Black-chinned Hummingbird.
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/23/20 (46 raptors)
Bob reports 46 migrating raptors today. Turkey Vulture 40 Northern Harrier 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Cooper’s Hawk 1 American Kestrel 1 The wind was moderate out of the ENE all day. It was overcast until about 1:30 and then the sun broke through and the Turkey Vultures arrived. Other birds included 5 Common Loons, 3 rafts of Red-breasted Mergansers totaling … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/22/20 (72 raptors)
Bob reports 72 migrating raptors today. Black Vulture 3 Turkey Vulture 50 Northern Harrier 8 Cooper’s Hawk 2 Bald Eagle 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Broad-winged Hawk 3 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Merlin 1 The wind was mild and multi-directional today. A raft of 190 Red-breasted Mergansers was nice and 70 Sandhill Cranes flew over.