TBRC Report

This form is intended as a convenience in reporting observations of rare or unusual birds. It may be used flexibly and need not be used at all except as a guideline. Attach additional sheets as necessary. PLEASE PRINT IN BLACK INK OR TYPE. Attach original field notes, drawings, photos, etc., if possible. When complete, mail to: Mark Lockwood, Secretary, Texas Bird Records Committee, 402 E. Harriet, Alpine, Texas 79830. Thank you! NOTE: to send this report electronically, copy this text into a blank word-processing document, complete the form, then send it as an attachment to the TBRC Secretary.

1.      Common and scientific name:

Short-tailed Hawk, Buteo brachyyurus

2.      Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 adults in breeding plumage):

One light adult

3.      Location (include specific County in Texas):

Hazel Bazemore County Park, Nueces County

4.      Date and time observed:

September 02, 2005 at 2:10 PM

5.      Reporting observer and address:

Joel Simon, 5229 Northwest Trail, Corpus Christi, TX 78410

6.      Other observers:

Dane Ferrell and Bob Creglow

7.      Light conditions:

Thunderstorms to the south, west, and north, the bird was seen to the east where conditions were good

8.      Optical equipment:

Swarovski 8.5X42 binoculars and Swarovski 20-60X 80 scope

9.      Distance to bird:

200 feet to the southeast and 150 feet high

10.   Duration of observation:

Four full minutes with about 2 1/2 minutes of the time spent kiting

11.   Habitat (be specific):

The park is located along the Nueces River and is heavily treed.  It also has some areas of South Texas brush and some open areas as well.

12.   Description: (Include only what was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen. Include, if possible, size and shape of the bird, the bill, the eye color, other characters. Include plumage patterns and colors. Try to describe voice, behavior, or anything else that might help to confirm the identification.)

This bird's flight was more agile and graceful than most buteos.  Its size was about that of a Broad-winged Hawk (since there was no other birds around it this only comes through years of experience at the hawk watch.  While kiting it held its wings level with upturned wing tips.  The head was all dark except for the white throat.  The body and wing linings were white.  The flight feathers were much lighter at the base (looking gray in binos) and very dark along the trailing edge and tip of the wing giving it a three tone look.  In the scope at 30 to 35 power the portion of each flight feather that looked gray in binos showed both dark and white.  The tail was all dark with three to four slightly darker bands and an even slightly darker terminal band.  The bird was only seen from below, no upper areas noted.

13.   How were similar species eliminated?

There are only two similar species of buteo with white wing coverts and dark flight feathers along with a white body.  The other two with the easily recognized two-toned wing pattern are the adult White-tailed Hawk and the adult Swainson's Hawk.  Firstly, the bird was a smaller buteo.  The wing shape was not long and tapered like the Swainson's nor did this bird soar or kite with wings in the slight dihedral of a White-tailed.  The main difference was in the tail.  All adult White-tailed Hawks will show a white tail with black terminal band and the Swainson's will have white at the base of the tail followed by thin bands and a darker terminal band. 

14.   Was it photographed? By whom? Attached?

No

       15.   Previous experience with this and similar species:

Joel Simon-lived in Florida for four years saw 14 there, 3 in Texas and 2 in Mexico

Similar species White-tailed Hawk seen daily at watch site and has literally seen tens of thousands of  Swainson's Hawks

               Dane Ferrell- is from Florida and has seen 24 plus light morphs there and 2 in Texas

                              Vast experience with similar species as this is his third hawk watch in Texas

               Bob Creglow- long-time volunteer at the watch had seen this hawk only once before

                              Vast experience with over 15 years watching hawks at Hazel Bazemore Park

16.  List any books or references used in identification:

·        a. at time of observation:

·        b. after observation:

The identification of this bird was made almost immediately prior to looking it up in Wheeler's Raptors of Western North America

17. This description was written from:_________notes made during observation; ________notes made after observation; ___________memory.

Notes were made on the identification of this bird into the hawk watch log book within an hour of the sighting. 

18. Are you positive of your identification?__________ If not, explain:

Yes

19. Signature of reporter along with date and time of writing this account:

Joel Simon.  This TBRC Report was written the evening of September 6 using notes made in the hawk watch log within an hour of the sighting.

Please attach additional sheets if necessary.

               No addition sheets.

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