The Smith Point Hawk Watch season is up and running with the expert eyes of

Wendy Beard-our seasonal hawk watcher all they way from Pennsylvania. Though

today was hot with little wind, our small team of three (Wendy, Cecilia

Riley, and Austin guest, Bruce Mast) were entertained throughout the day

with a number of migrant species. No really large numbers but enough to keep

our eyes to the cloudless and hazy sky.  Birds today were as follows:

Broad-winged Hawk - 11

Red-tailed Hawk - 1

Wood Stork - 23

Magnificent Frigatebird - 25

Black Tern - 50

Plus numerous Orchard Oriole, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Ruby-throated

Hummingbird, and swallows (Barn, N. Rough-winged, Cliff). Also of interest

was a single Upland Sandpiper heard overhead, one Yellow-breasted Chat in

the woodlot, one Great-crested Fylcatcher, and one empid of some kind.

You are all invited to visit the tower anytime you can. The company and your

expert eyes are always welcome. The tower is officially operated 7 days a

week, 8 AM to 4 PM.

Many thanks to this years Field Coordinator, Dick Benoit and to the sponsors

of SPHW: ExxonMobil, HawkWatch International, Compaq Computer Corporation,

Texas Partners in Flight, and Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Cecilia Riley

Gulf Coast Bird Observatory

criley@gcbo.org