Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/13/16 (109 raptors)

Another slow day but a beautiful adult White-tailed Hawk graced the tower which is always nice. Broad-winged Hawk 34 Sharp-shinned Hawk 33 Cooper’s Hawk 19 Mississippi Kite 1 Black Vulture 8 American Kestrel 12 Northern Harrier 2

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/12/16 (145 raptors)

Not a stellar day but the highlight included an adult Bald Eagle playing with some frigatebirds. You certainly don’t see that every day (or ever)! Bald Eagle 1 (adult) Broad-winged Hawk 68 Sharp-shinned Hawk 33 Cooper’s Hawk 14 Mississippi Kite 1 White-tailed Kite 1 American Kestrel 23 Peregrine Falcon 1 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 2

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/10/16 (85 raptors)

A slow day but a juvenile dark Broad-winged was a treat! Broad-winged Hawk 22 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 14 Cooper’s Hawk 23 Black Vulture 12 American Kestrel 9 Peregrine Falcon 1 Merlin 1 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 1 Photo courtesy of Joe Kennedy.

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/9/16 (285 raptors)

Another slow day. Broad-winged Hawk 169 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Swainson’s Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 44 Cooper’s Hawk 45 Mississippi Kite 4 Turkey Vulture 5 American Kestrel 6 Peregrine Falcon 2 Northern Harrier 5

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/8/16 (394 raptors)

A surprisingly slow day today at the Point given the posts about raptors streaming over Houston and Austin on FB and TexBirds. Broad-winged Hawk 158 Red-tailed Hawk 4 Swainson’s Hawk 11 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 125 Cooper’s Hawk 51 Mississippi Kite 6 Swallow-tailed Kite 1 Black Vulture 3 American Kestrel 12 Peregrine Falcon 13 Merlin 2 Northern Harrier 7

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/7/16 (1976 raptors)

A great day with a very late Swallow-tailed Kite! Broad-winged Hawk 1544 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Swainson’s Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 319 Cooper’s Hawk 39 Mississippi Kite 6 Swallow-tailed Kite 1 White-tailed Kite 1 American Kestrel 43 Merlin 5 Northern Harrier 12

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/6/16 (521 raptors)

Things are slowing down. Maybe there’s another big slug of Broad-wings up the pike. Time will tell. Broad-winged Hawk 319 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 102 Cooper’s Hawk 50 Mississippi Kite 13 Turkey Vulture 15 American Kestrel 12 Peregrine Falcon 1 Merlin 1 Northern Harrier 6 Bald Eagle 1

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/4/16 (2012 raptors)

Well it’s Tuesday and Tad was there so guess what – a lot of birds! Broad-winged Hawk 1816 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 89 Cooper’s Hawk 13 Mississippi Kite 25 Turkey Vulture 25 American Kestrel 5 Peregrine Falcon 1 Merlin 1 Northern Harrier 4

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/3/16 (634 raptors)

A decent day but nothing like the weekend! Broad-winged Hawk 449 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 135 Cooper’s Hawk 25 Small accipiter 1 Mississippi Kite 10 American Kestrel 4 Peregrine Falcon 1 Merlin 1 Northern Harrier 6

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/2/16 (1257)

In Bob’s own words – what a difference a day makes. Far fewer birds today! Broad-winged Hawk 1138 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 57 Cooper’s Hawk 26 Mississippi Kite 15 American Kestrel 4 Peregrine Falcon 4 Merlin 2 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 7