Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/19/16 (164 raptors)

Still waitin’ on that cold front! Broad-winged Hawk 33 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Swainson’s Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 57 Cooper’s Hawk 20 Mississippi Kite 1 Turkey Vulture 33 American Kestrel 8 Peregrine Falcon 2 Northern Harrier 8

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/18/16 (167 raptors)

A better day but we are still waiting on that cold front. Broad-winged Hawk 46 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 30 Cooper’s Hawk 15 Mississippi Kite 2 White-tailed Kite 1 Turkey Vulture 49 Black Vulture 13 American Kestrel 5 Peregrine Falcon 1 Merlin 1 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 2

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/17/16 (66 raptors)

Another slow day but come Thursday or Friday…. Broad-winged Hawk 6 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 31 Cooper’s Hawk 12 Mississippi Kite 12 Peregrine Falcon 2 Northern Harrier 1

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/16/16 (65 raptors)

Darn those south winds. Broad-winged Hawk 4 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 34 Cooper’s Hawk 14 Unidentified Accipter 2 American Kestrel 6 Peregrine Falcon 3 Northern Harrier 1

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/15/16 (294 raptors)

A promising start that was snuffed out by strong south winds. Looking forward to the big cold front next week. Broad-winged Hawk 217 Sharp-shinned Hawk 37 Cooper’s Hawk 23 American Kestrel 8 Peregrine Falcon 2 Merlin 2 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 4

Smith Point Hawk Watch 10/14/16 (262 raptors)

A decent day with nice weather! Broad-winged Hawk 141 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 Sharp-shinned Hawk 39 Cooper’s Hawk 36 American Kestrel 32 Northern Harrier 7 White-tailed Kite 1

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