Smith Point Hawk Watch is located in Chambers County, Texas. The count is
conducted from a watchtower situated in the Candy Abshier Wildlife
Management Area. From I-10 take Hwy. 61 south (exit 812 from W, exit 813
from E) to FM 562. Follow 562 approximately 20 miles into Smith Point.
Hawk Watch signs are posted and will lead you to the watch tower.

Totals for 24 October 1998/ Season Totals

Turkey Vulture   1/  224
Black Vulture   6/  62
Osprey   0/  67
Swallow-tailed Kite   0/  59
White-tailed Kite   0/  26
Mississippi  Kite   0/  2363
Northern Harrier  5/  224
Sharp-shinned Hawk   13/  3,290
Cooper's Hawk   14/  1,094
Unid. Accipiter   0/  170
Red-shouldered Hawk   0/  36
Broad-winged Hawk   22/  16,043
Swainson's Hawk   1/  43
Red-tailed Hawk   0/  16
Unid. Buteo   0/  26
American Kestrel   11/  1,301
Merlin   0/  26
Peregrine Falcon   0/  93
Unid. Falcon   0/  13
Crested Caracara   0/  3
Unid. Raptor   0/  90
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GRAND TOTALS   60/  25,174

An absolutely great day weather wise was todays highlight.  Also, Dick
Benoit spotted our first Common Loon for the season.  Other birds seen
today included, local Ospreys, Spoonbills,  Willet, Loggerhead Shrike,
Eastern Phoebe, Hirundines galore, ... on second thought now that I begin
the list , I remember why we don't do this daily: there are so many birds
that it would be an extraordinary chore.  I suppose the take-home message
is that the situation of the tower next to Galveston Bay, Open fields,
and Oak mottes all within binocular range from the tower, Smith Point
Hawkwatch has something for all birders.  Now doesn't that make you just
want to hug someone? -Richard

Rebecca Smith & Richard Gibbons, Smith Point Hawk Watchers for the
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory http://www.nol.net/~criley
SPHW is sponsored by GCBO, Ornithology Group-ONC, TPWD, HawkWatch Int'l.,
and the Exxon Baytown
Use of computer provided by Tx PIF, TPWD, and Compaq Computer Corp