Coastal Bend Hawk Watch, Fall 1999
Hazel Bazemore County Park + 3 satellite sites
Date:   09-29-99

Hi everyone,

Not much to tell tonight; we got pretty thoroughly rained out. That tropical low that came on shore yesterday met head on with a cold front from the north overnight. Quite a collision overhead that bounced a lot of us right out of bed around 3 in the morning. It started to clear a little mid-morning, so we ran to the watch sites and tried to set up, but to no avail; winds were still blowing a gale (literally) and the rain came back in when the front backed up over us (a typical pattern when a cold front hits our warm, wet coastal air).

Had four birds wing over site #4 during a short lull (3 broadies and an osprey), making a quick break for the south. Thanks to Robert Benson and Kent Taylor and company for catching them. Everything else was too rainy or too late by the time the rain cleared. The "picket line" experiment was a resounding success, however; we'll have to look at this more closely for the next watch. We still don't think all the broadies are through yet; so the rest of the week will be interesting to see how many more come over during weather breaks. We're told yet another front will be coming in over the weekend. Lots of weather all up and down the migration route to play with our seasonal dynamics. Mother Nature's keeping her finger in the pie, all right!

We'll put this one to bed with a short report for a change and see what tomorrow brings on the back side of this latest front.

- Cheers from Patty Beasley, Joel Simon, Fernando Ramos, Ryan Wagner, and the rest of the HBHW cast and crew!