Hazel Bazemore Hawk Watch

Corpus Christi, Texas (Nueces County)

All reports are posted daily to the following newsgroups: 
BirdHawk, TexBirds, BirdChat, TexasBirdChat
   

So, just how do we count all those hawks!?
 

November 1, 2006:

Libby's report:

Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 10
Swainson's: 2
Red-Shouldered Hawk: 3
White-tailed Hawk: 1
Harris' Hawk: 1
Turkey Vultures: 552
Black Vultures: 6
Sharpshins: 13
Coopers: 17
Unid Accip: 1
Kestrels: 9
Peregrine: 1
Harriers: 18
Caracara: 1

Total: 636

Cooler temps and north winds helped with the movement today. A nice variety - 14 species is always exciting.
Skeins and skeins of mixed Geese were the most common bird today - one Ross' Goose (within a group of White-fronted and Snow Geese) was our new dickey bird added to the park list today. 

November 02, 2006:

Dane's report:

Broad-winged Hawks: 12
Swainson's Hawks: 1
Red-tailed Hawks: 25
Red-shouldered Hawks: 5
Harris' Hawks: 1
Ferriginous Hawk: 1
Unid buteo: 2
Turkey Vultures: 353
Black Vultures: 5
Sharp-shinned Hawks: 15
Cooper's Hawks: 32
Unid accipiters: 2
American Kestrels: 4
Peregrine Falcons: 1
Merlin: 1
Northern Harriers: 27
Crested Caracara: 2
Unid raptors: 1

Total: 490

lots of Waterfowl ... Ferruginous was a light-morph immie ... 

November 03, 2006:

Dane's report:

Broad-winged Hawks : 24
Red-tailed Hawks : 34
Swainson's Hawks : 2
Red-shouldered Hawks : 4
Unknown Buteos : 2
Turkey Vultures : 503
Black Vultures : 26
Sharp-shinned Hawks : 20
Cooper's Hawks : 16
Unknown Accips : 3
American Kestrels : 4
Peregrine Falcons : 2
Osprey : 1
Northern Harriers : 19
Crested Caracara : 1
Harris's Hawk : 1
White-tailed Hawk : 1
Total = 663

Counted 406 Geese, and 44 Sandhill Cranes .... 

November 04, 2006:

Libby's report:

Red-tailed Hawk: 1
Ferruginous Hawk: 1
White-tailed Hawk: 1
Unid buteo: 1
Turkey Vultures: 485
Black Vultures: 27
Sharpshins: 2
Kestrel: 1
Harrier: 1

Total: 520

Winds from the northeast hung on until almost noon today. The raptors were steady from 9: until 2: this afternoon when the skies simply cleared of all birds. Our red-tailed hawk was an adult, light morph Harlan's - incredible bird. The Ferruginous - unknown age, light morph - flew down the east side of the watch (yes, we got to see Dane chase another great bird up the hill), perched on a telephone pole by the park entrance and, as soon as I got up the hill with the scope it took off and continued on its journey. The White-tailed hawk was an immature. Not many days left to enjoy the watch so come see us soon. Any day now will be our double eagle day!

November 05, 2006:

Dane's report:

Broad-winged Hawks : 3
Red-tailed Hawks : 12
Red-shouldered Hawk : 1
Unknown Buteos : 2
Turkey Vultures : 1102
Black Vultures : 19
Sharp-shinned Hawks : 3
Cooper's Hawks : 13
Unknown Accip : 1
Peregrine Falcons : 4
Osprey : 1
Northern Harrier : 1
Crested Caracaras : 3
White-tailed Hawks : 5
Zone-tailed Hawk : 1
Ferruginous Hawk : 1
Total = 1172

Ferruginous Hawk was a light-morph adult ... Zone-tailed Hawk was an adult, sex undetermined ... awesome day for White-tailed Hawks ; all 5 counted White-tailed Hawks were adults , and they received 'escort' service from our local pair ...

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Thanks, Dane! Another great day of diversity!

Cheers,
Patty

November 6, 2006:

Libby's report:

Redtails: 3
Harris' Hawk: 1
White-tailed Hawk: 1
Turkey Vultures: 103
Black Vultures: 10
Sharpshins: 6
Coopers: 8
Unid accip: 1
Kestrels: 2
Peregrine: 1
Harriers: 4

Total: 140

A gorgeous day - pleasant temperatures, near-perfect blue skies with puffy clouds to highlight the raptors. Both the Harris and the White-tailed Hawks were adults.

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Thanks, Libby!

Hey, I've finally managed to get photos posted, too ... check out the Texas Hawk Watch page for the 2006 fall season (www.ccbirding.com/thw/2006/) for links to some really fantastic photography! Shots include a wonderful day on the hill at the Celebration of Flight thanks to Steve Leibovitz; a shot of one of our early eagles and other raptors on the hill courtesy of Bob Fisher (with additional thanks to Libby for getting him in touch with me so we could post his photos); shots of that wildly rare and exciting gray kingbird of October 26-27 - with two other flycatchers in the frame for comparison - a really great shot!; and some super general watch shots from Henry and Lenore Kielblock of the Scott's Mountain hawk watch. A million thanks and lots of extra chocolate rations to all our guest photographers for their generosity in sharing their memories and photos with the rest of us!

A final thought for the day ... John Economidy tells us this week we've also whacked down the old white-tail hawk record as well. The rate this season is going, we're going to be setting the bars higher on almost every species that's crossed over the watch! If that doesn't put a wiggle in your step and more chocolate in your mouth, I don't know what will!! (now, where did I put that chocolate? It's almost time for my daily morning ration ... )

Cheers,
Patty 

November 7, 2006:

Joel's report:

Today's weather was outstanding, even the cloudless skies were not a big problem. Overall a slow day for raptors and other birds as well. We have a pair of Mexican Ground Squirrels that have been right next to the site for most of the season. Jimmy Swartz has been feeding them peanuts, bread, and other things. One is even so brave to come right up to his chair to obtain his goodies. They have now been officially named: Hazel and Bazil Moore!!!!

Broad-winged Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 3
Unidentified Buteo 1
Turkey Vulture 168
Black Vulture 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 2
Cooper's Hawk 1
American Kestrel 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Harris's Hawk 2
Total 185

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Thanks, Joel!

What a neat story, about the ground squirrels! We have lots of critter friends on the hill. Even the resident javelina pack (aka collared peccaries) tried to snuggle up to the crew last year, heh!

So, did you get out and vote today (or take advantage of early voting)? Of course you did. Good job. 'Nuff said!

Cheers,
Patty  

November 8, 2006: 

Dane's report:

Turkey Vultures : 6

Total = 6

The preceding is not a misprint ... did have a Nashville Warbler ... the good news is , Hazel always repays those who sit thru a six TV day ... Hazel rocks ...

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Thanks, Dane!

You betcha, there are definitely those days here at Hazel when we can count the day's take on one or two hands, and I don't even have to go to the spreadsheet to do the season-to-date totals. <grin!> But as Dane notes, even if raptors are reluctant, warblers and other dickie birds will always fill the gaps! Butterflies and moths are still abundant in the flora and fauna, too, though thankfully not nearly as abundant on our windshields as during the past two months!

Cheers,
Patty

November 9, 2006:

Libby's report:

Turkey Vultures: 73
Black Vultures: 3
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Aplomado Falcon: 1

Total: 78

It was a slow day with a sweet ending. All the vultures and coop were mid-day. At about 2: or 2:30 Dane saw something land on one of the power poles, it looked a little funny so he put it in the scope and lo and behold FINALLY an Aplomado Falcon. Bob Creglow had seen the same "funny landing" on Tuesday but it flew just after he had it in the scope for a second or two. He had his suspicions which were confirmed today when it perched on the very same pole. The falcon is an adult, we suspect a male due to size, and are encouraged by its hanging around for two days. It dove from the pole - almost straight down - appears to be hunting - and it came back about 15-20 minutes later for another perch and second looks by all. Hopefully it will stay a while longer.

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Thanks, Libby!

And that Aplomado brings us to 27 species so far for the season, with six more days to go!

Cheers,
Patty 

November 10, 2006:

Libby's report:

Red-tailed Hawk: 1
Harris' Hawk: 1
Turkey Vultures: 118
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Crested Caracara: 1
Unid raptor: 1

Total: 123

No sighting of the Aplomado today. The Caracara and Harris' were both adult birds; the Red-tail an immie.

More migrants coming into the park today - added Bufflehead and Marsh Wren to our list. Also, a pair of Hooded Mergansers were seen on the pond yesterday and added to our list.

November 11, 2006:

Libby's report:

Red-tails: 4
Red-shouldereds: 2
White-tailed Hawks: 2
Turkey Vultures: 471
Black Vultures: 18
Coopers: 1
Kestrel: 2
Osprey: 1
Harrier: 1
Crested Caracara: 2

Total: 504

All four of our red-tails today were immatures; one a light morph Harlan's. The two White-tails were also immature.
 
Very nice north winds today made it pleasant for the counters and our visitors - most important factor is NO BUGS! Yeah! Added two new dickie birds to our park list today - Eastern Bluebird and American Robin.

November 12, 2006:

Joel's report:

If only the hawks could have been as good as the weather. Still, it was a good day with our locals putting on a show for most of the day.

Red-tailed Hawk 4
Unidentified Buteo 1
Turkey Vulture 17
Black Vulture 10
Sharp-shinned 14
Cooper's 7
Peregrine Falcon 3
No. Harrier 8
Total 64

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Thanks, Joel!

Figures, doesn't it? The watch is about to end just when the real cool fronts start coming in! <laugh!> It's one of the south Texas Murphy's Laws of Hawk Watching!

Cheers,
Patty

November 13, 2006:

Dane's report:

Broad-winged Hawks : 3
Red-tailed Hawks : 12
Swainson's Hawk : 1
Unknown Buteos : 3
Turkey Vultures : 270
Black Vultures : 4
Sharp-shinned Hawks : 2
Cooper's Hawks : 12
Northern Harriers : 22
White-tailed Hawks : 2
Zone-tailed Hawk : 1
Total = 332

Zone-tailed Hawk was an adult ( sex unknown ) ... lots of Geese ... 9 Hooded Mergansers on pond ... great day for Buteos ... had resident Harris' and Red-shouldered Hawks as well as Buteos listed above - for a total of 7 Buteo species ...

November 14, 2006:

- Dane's report:

Red-tailed Hawks : 4
Turkey Vultures : 178
Cooper's Hawks : 2
Total = 184

Aplomado made another appearance - this time carrying lunch ( some unfortunate Songbird type ) - while getting harassed by a resident Kestrel! Hazel rocks ...

November 15, 2006:

Dane's report:

Red-tailed Hawks : 12
Turkey Vultures : 96
Sharp-shinned Hawk : 1
Total = 109

Our final day was cut short by incredible winds ... on behalf of my co-workers and Hawkwatch International, we want to give a whole-hearted thanks to our awesome Volunteers, and our incredible Guests ...

WOW! What a season ... we set numerous Site records - both daily and seasonal ... Hazel rocks ...

Thank you Patty - for your awesome support and wonderful website ...

Again , thanks to All - and see you in 2007 ....

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Thanks, Dane! Congratulations all around to our hard working crew and volunteers!

It was a season for the books, all right! Check out John Economidy's hard work in tracking all the records broken this fall (mega-bowing and scraping here ... "we are not worthy!").

We sure didn't go into the season expecting it (one never does) but as often happens, nature will have its way, and this season, we were lucky enough to end up with a really remarkable flight:

New Records Set in Fall 2006
compiled by John M. Economidy

Most Species Seen in a Season Records:

*  Osprey at 325, replacing 241 in 2005.
*  Swallow-tailed Kites at 99, replacing 57 in 2002.
*  Mississippi Kites at 14,072, replacing 10,154 in 2001.
*  Bald Eagles at 5, replacing 4 in 2005.
*  Northern Harriers at 614, replacing 331 in 1999.
*  Cooper’s Hawks  at 1,719, replacing 1,083 in 2003.
*  Northern Goshawk at 2, replacing 1 2002 and 1999.
*  Harris’s Hawk at  39, replacing 27 in 1999.
*  Red-shouldered Hawk at 102, replacing 91 in 2002.
*  White-tailed Hawk at 39, replacing 25 in 2005.
*  American Kestrels at 1,137, replacing 860 in 2003.
*  Peregrine Falcons at 306, replacing 241 in 1999. 

Most Species Seen in a Single Day:

*  Most different raptor species seen in a single day:  19 on October 20, 2006, replacing 18 on October 23, 2006, October 15, 2003 and October 9, 2002.

*  Most different buteo species in a single day:  7 on October 20, 2006 with RSH/BW/SW/RTH/HH/WTH/FH, replacing many days with 6.

*  Northern Harrier at 60 on October 20, 2006, replacing 35 on September 30, 1999.
*  Cooper’s Hawk at 258 on October 20, 2006, replacing 162 on October 14, 2003.
*  Harris’s Hawk at 4 on October 26, 2006, replacing 3 on multiple occasions.
*  Red-shouldered Hawk at 17 on October 20, 2006 and 14 on September 26, 2006,replacing 10 on September 20, 2002.
*  Peregrine Falcon at 40 on September 29, 2006, replacing 37 on October 1, 2005.

Other Matters:

*  Red-tailed Hawks

    *  Leuco-genetic white RTH:  October 29, 2006.
    *  Harlan’s Hawk:  2 on 10-27-2006 and one on 10-23-2006.
    *  Krider’s:  one each on 9-21-2006 and 10-29-2006.
    *  Rufous morph:  one on 9-26-2006.
    *  Dark morph on 8-20-2006.

*  Sighting of Bald Eagle on October 21, 2006 during the 3d Annual Native American Heritage Festival

*  Sighting of Golden Eagle on October 1 just before Gulf Coast Indian Confederation blessed hawkwatch site.

*  First sighting of Gray Kingbird at hawkwatch on October 26-27, 2006.

* Ratio of SS to total accipiters proved lowest in history of watch. Attributed to increased population of Cooper's Hawks.

* Have added Veracruz data to the booklet and note that SW numbers were profoundly down: 467,000 versus a typical 1,000,000 plus.