By Susan Heath Chicks! We’ve got chicks. Ok well maybe just one chick but it’s so cute! I know you can’t wait to see it! Ok take a couple deep breathes, calm down, and I’ll tell you the story. We had to rearrange the schedule this week due to the weather so we went to West Galveston Bay on Tuesday … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2019: Field Week 2
By Susan Heath On Wednesday I was joined by Alan Wilde and GCBO shorebird technician Taylor Bennett for a tour of West Galveston Bay and Swan Lake. First off – it was cold! If you know me at all, you know I don’t do cold. I live in Texas for a reason and not being cold is a big part … Read More
Oystercatcher Diaries 2019: Field Week 1
By Susan Heath Welcome to the 2019 edition of the Oystercatcher Diaries! Although this week was the first official week of oystercatcher monitoring, I’ve been out in the bays a couple of times each month this winter on another project so I’ve been keeping an eye on the birds. On January 31st, we found that 12 & unbanded had laid … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/15/18 (809 raptors)
Bob reports 809 migrating raptors today. Broad-winged Hawk 134 Red-tailed Hawk 186 Swainson’s Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Harris’s Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 Cooper’s Hawk 14 Turkey Vulture 444 Black Vulture 9 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 9 A spectacular last day of the count. Highest ever one day Red-tailed count by far. We’ve only had five years with more … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/14/18 (2237 raptors)
Bob reports 2237 migrating raptors today. Broad-winged Hawk 698 Red-tailed Hawk 74 Red-shouldered Hawk 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 Cooper’s Hawk 9 Turkey Vulture 1410 Black Vulture 13 American Kestrel 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Northern Harrier 16 Other birds of note: 2 Whooping Cranes seen twice, 350 Snow Geese, 6 Great Blue Herons in a kettle, 53 Sandhill Cranes, pipits, bluebirds,Song … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/13/18 (169 raptors)
Tad reports 169 migrating raptors today. Broad-winged Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 Cooper’s Hawk 3 Turkey Vulture 114 Black Vulture 24 American Kestrel 10 Merlin 1 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 4 A day of very strong north winds and cold temperatures. At midday sleet fell on the tower. The strong north wind caused a mudflat extending 50 … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/12/18 (4 raptors)
Bob reports 4 migrating raptors today. American Kestrel 1 Northern Harrier 3 Other birds of note: 3 Common Loons, 1400 Snow Geese, and a Chuck-will’s-widow. Count interuppted by rain numerous times. 3 more days. Note that with the time change this weekend Bob is now at the tower from 7:00am until 3:00pm instead of 8:00 to 4:00. The Smith Point … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/11/18 (9 raptors)
Bob reports 9 migrating raptors today. Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 American Kestrel 2 Northern Harrier 5 Other birds of note: 1 Cedar Waxwing, 10 American Robins, 2 Wood Storks, and 1 Common Loon. Count ended at 1:00 due to rain. Billy Kleinpeter helped out today. Thanks Billy. 4 more days. Note that with the time change this weekend Bob is now … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/10/18 (1311 raptors)
Bob reports 1311 migrating raptors today. Broad-winged Hawk 907 Red-tailed Hawk 33 Swainson’s Hawk 10 Sharp-shinned Hawk 15 Cooper’s Hawk 15 Turkey Vulture 311 Black Vulture 9 Northern Harrier 6 White-tailed Kite 1 Golden Eagle 1 Bald Eagle 3 Other birds of note: one dark Red-tailed Hawk, 30 Eastern Bluebirds, 12 Pine Siskins, lots of goldfinches, White-throated Sparrows, Great Horned … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/9/18 (12 raptors)
Bob reports 12 migrating raptors today. Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 American Kestrel 3 Northern Harrier 3 Strong north winds and rain today resulted in only 3.25 hours of counting. 11 Wood Storks. 6 more days. Note that with the time change this weekend Bob is now at the tower from 7:00am until 3:00pm instead of 8:00 to 4:00. The Smith Point … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/8/18 (46 raptors)
Bob reports 46 migrating raptors today. Broad-winged Hawk 13 Red-tailed Hawk 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 Cooper’s Hawk 1 Black Vulture 10 American Kestrel 4 Northern Harrier 8 Nice Tree Swallow show in the morning. 3 Sandhill Cranes. Linda Hoffman helped out today. Thanks Linda. 7 more days. Note that with the time change this weekend Bob is now at the … Read More
Smith Point Hawk Watch 11/7/18 (4 raptors)
Bob reports 4 migrating raptors today. Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 Cooper’s Hawk 1 Northern Harrier 1 A day of fog and rain showers. 210 white pelicans in view at one point. 8 more days. Note that with the time change this weekend Bob is now at the tower from 7:00am until 3:00pm instead of 8:00 to 4:00. The Smith Point Hawk … Read More