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!?
 

August 01, 2007:

Dane's report:

Hey folks! Hawkwatch07 is upon us !!!!

First - the official stuff :
Countable Raptors :

Mississippi Kites = 9

As in 7 adults , 1 immie , and 1 unaged ... Very nice looks at these Mississippi Kites!

AWESOME!!!!!!! We also had many 'non-countable' highlights:

Bob Creglow spotted the 1st "countable" Raptor for the Season ... way to go Bob !!!

Other tasty delights: 3 White-tailed Hawks (2 adults, 1 immie - these birds are residents).

Also, very exciting; Bob spotted 2 Empids - Least and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers. Both of these guys gave us great looks - as they were seen working in Tree #4 at different times. Awesome!

Plus, flights of Wood Storks, Anhingas ... and Black Terns ...

In the past few days :

Swallow-tailed Kite spotted by Bob and Jimmy; from Jimmy's yard (around the bend about half a mile as the hawk flies from the hawk watch site), on
07-28-07.

Zone-tailed Hawk seen flying South over Hazel Bazemore by Dane on 07/31/07 ( sex undetermined ).

The flood plain is, to say the least, flooded - but Hazel always has, and always will, Rock !!!

August 02, 2007:

Dane's report:

Mississippi Kites = 99
Peregrine Falcons = 2
Swainson's Hawk = 1
Harris' Hawks = 2
White-tailed Hawk = 1
Cooper's Hawk = 1
Total = 106

Thank you and a big congratulations to Jo Creglow for spotting our first kettle for Hawkwatch07!! Excellent! Jo's kettle of 32 Mississippi Kites was quickly followed by our 2nd immie Peregrine Falcon (playing tag with some Laughing Gulls), and another group of 22 Mississippi Kites! Great spotting Jo!!

We are starting to think.....maybe Kites are on the move ... What do you think ?

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Dane, I think you're right! Migration does start in earnest around here in August; late July, even, and it's thrilling for all of us this year to start getting those early travelers on the books! Great job, hawk watchers ... let's reel them in!

August 03, 2007:

Dane's report:

Swainson's Hawk = 1
Mississippi Kites = 6
Total = 7

Some very interesting behavior from Resident Birds observed yesterday - a pair of adult Red-tailed Hawks copulating (on August 3rd!!??) , and at least 1/2 an hour of mutual preening between 2 White-tailed Hawks ... really awesome stuff ...

Local Raptors we have established through 08/03/07:
Black Vultures = 13
Turkey Vultures = 10
White-tailed Hawks = 3 (2 adults, 1 subadult)
Red-tailed Hawks = 2 (adults)
Harris' Hawks = 2 (adults)

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Thanks, Dane! It's good to see our local white-tails are maintaining the population with their annual chick contributions.

August 04, 2007: 

Dane's report:

Swallow-tailed Kites = 11
Zone-tailed Hawk = 1
Total = 12

The Zone-tailed Hawk came within 70 or 80 feet from where Mike Clifford and I  were standing ... Absolutely awesome look at an adult male (who is doing some molting in both of his wings, and tail). Just a few minutes later, we had 3 Swallow-tailed Kites circling up! Zone-tailed Hawk and Swallow-tailed Kite in a matter of minutes; yes, that happens to us, all the time ...(We wish!) Hazel Rocks!!! We had 2 groups of 3, and ended our day with a group of 5 Swallow-tailed Kites ... leaving us speechless ... Groove-billed Anis graced us with their presence, and a Site rarity was spotted by Bob Creglow - a nice look at an adult Northern Bobwhite which was feeding around the playground just above our Site. In my opinion, it was a stupendous day ...

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I don't think anyone will argue with that observation, Dane, thanks! Wow, the swallow-tailed kites are stacking up already and zonies overhead, close enough to reach out and touch ... ya just gotta love this hawk watching stuff!

August 05, 2007:

Joel's report:

Slow day today with only three movers. A good long look at a Peregrine, a Swainson's, and an adult White-tailed being escorted by the local White-tailed. Three Fulvous Whistling Ducks were the only new species for the day.

August 06, 2007:

Joel's report:

Today's total......16 Mississippi Kites

They all came during a ten minute period beginning around 3:00 pm. Otherwise, a very birdless day. The highlight were a doe and two fawns. The fawns still had their spots, unfortunately when I tried to get my camera out of my vehicle they spooked and ran away.

August 07, 2007:

Dane's report:

White-tailed hawk: 1
Red-tailed hawk: 1
Unidentified buteo: 1
Total: 3

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Thanks, Dane!

Can you believe it -- we're back in migration again! Granted, it's the early stages, but with the weather we've all been having this year, even the raptors are taking advantage of early departures.

The Corpus Christi Hawk Watch at Hazel Bazemore County Park started up two weeks early this year thanks to tireless work by Watch Coordinator Joel Simon to acquire funding to cover the extra days. What a thrill for us, to finally get on the official books counts of raptors we knew were leaving early and missing our clickers!

I'm going to just talk numbers today, but I do want to tell you all --- there are fabulous raptors already in the Texas skies! For our out-of-state friends who aren't getting Texas area/regional feeds ... our watch has already had a slug of kites soar through, along with a zone-tailed hawk (talk about your early migrant buteos!). Resident raptors are being kept busy sorting the visiting raptors and escorting them on through the watch territory. Swallow-tailed kites are already passing in good numbers; this year promises to show a good hatch/survival rate if the early flights at our watch and reports from other areas along the Texas upper Gulf Coast are any indication.

Farther south in the Texas Valley, the Bentsen State Park hawk tower racked up a real grabber ... a dark-morph short-tailed hawk. In case you doubt what your eyes are reading here, know that renown raptor expert Bill Clark was also on hand for the sighting, and Bill, we hear you even have photos! We'll look forward to getting the link for those. What a fun catch!

Northeast of us, up coast at the Smith Point watch site, flights are light, but intrepid visitors are sidling in beside the resident black vulture family and seeing a few raptors winging through.

Start heading out to your area watches if you haven't already packed your vehicles of choice, wherever you are along the various flyways! Keep the chocolate chilled, it's going to be a hot one for awhile!

On behalf of our 2007 crew, Joel Simon, Watch Coordinator; Dane Ferrell, Site Coordinator; Libby Even, Official Counter; and me, your intrepid reporter, welcome back to the Hill! 

August 08, 2007:

Dane's report:

Red-tailed Hawk = 1
Total = 1

August 09, 2007:

Dane's report:

Mississippi Kites = 72
Osprey = 1
Total = 73

Had a kettle of 60 plus Mississippi Kites! Really awesome! Had 0ver 200 Anhinga flyover today (in several groups); and our first Osprey of the Season!! Yes ...

August 10, 2007:

Dane's report:

Broad-winged Hawk = 1

Red-tailed Hawk = 1

Mississippi Kites = 52

Total = 54

Our first Broad-winged Hawk in the 07 Count - nice spot Jo! A couple of decent kettles and streams of Mississippi Kites - excellent! An immie Red-tailed Hawk with lots of attitude ... And our "local" Raptors are an everyday treat; at least 9 species are "local", and quite possibly a 10th - as a Zone-tailed Hawk with distinctive molt, has been seen more than once in this area.

August 11, 2007:

Dane's report:

Broad-winged Hawk =1
Red-tailed Hawk = 1
Mississippi Kites = 165
Swallow-tailed Kite = 1
Osprey = 1
Total = 169

Keep them Kites a comin'!!!

August 12, 2007:

Dane's report:

Broad-winged Hawks = 3
Mississippi Kites = 1343
Swallow-tailed Kites = 4
Cooper's Hawk = 1
Zone-tailed Hawk = 1
Total = 1352

Zone-tailed a definite mover - but we could not determine sex or age. Zone-tailed was first 'countable' of day; but then Mississippi Kites showed up in droves! We had 703 Mississippi Kites from 1:00pm to 2:00pm (Central Time)!! Wow ...

We had our best Broad-winged Hawk day yet this season - 3! I am willing to bet however, that we will eclipse that mark soon.

There is no way we could have counted all these Raptors without the awesome help of our Volunteer/Visitors: Thank you to Jimmy, Mike, Bob (thanx for the ice-cream, Bob!) - And Libby and I were thrilled to arrive at the Site today to find Kevin Georg waiting for us (or was he waiting for the Raptors?). Kevin will be the Lead Counter at Smith Point this year - so he got a dose of tropical-weather acclimation today at Hazel! Besides enduring 110 degrees in heat index; Kevin made many excellent spots throughout the day ... Awesome ...

It was very beneficial having Libby onsite for 8 hours today as well!

Nice work everyone!!!!

August 13, 2007:

Joel's report:

Broad-winged Hawk 4
Mississippi Kite 141
Swallow-tailed Kite 1
Total- 146

An actual lift-off at 9:40 am. All the birds came in the first four hours, then nothing the last four hours. Early there were thousands and thousands of dragonflies and the kites were feasting on them most of the morning. Even our local White-tails were going after them along with the local peregrine that made several spectacular movers to take advantage of this moveable feast.

August 14, 2007:

Dane's report:

Broad-winged Hawk = 1
Total = 1

Our good friend Peter Collins showed up today ... We are hoping for more Birds tomorrow!!    

August 15, 2007:

Dane's report:

An awesome "second" opening day for the 2007 season:

Mississippi Kites: 1452
Swallow-tailed Kites: 4
Osprey: 1
Total: 1457

Kettles and streams of Mississippi Kites ... so many Dragonflies in the sky, some of these Kites formed a swarm - a feeding frenzy if you will ... Simply incredible ... Some pretty good looks at Swallow-tailed Kites ... What more could a Hawkwatcher ask? It was a truly great time on Hazel Hill today! Nice spotting and teamwork, everyone ...  

August 16, 2007:

Libby's report:

While some may have been concerned, your fearless hawkwatchers would NEVER let a little ol tropical storm run us off the hill. However, raptors found it hard to get through/around the showers:

Mississippi Kites: 4
Peregrine Falcon: 1
Total: 5

We were run off the hill for a short time in the morning with light showers and no visibility. We returned at noon and shortly after found our first 2 kites. I scoffed at Bob's prediction that they were the peak of the day. Unfortunately he was right. A good show by our local immie peregrine stooping on a small buteo in the west. After several clashes with the buteo, it turned its attention to a Black Vulture. Quite some time later a peregrine came down the middle fairly high and then veered west as our local does. But the local came up and the two were in the sky together letting us know one was a mover. Our courageous local did not play footsies with nor get very close to that migrant.

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Thanks, Libby!

Tropical Storm Erin ... ah yes, we got to know her a bit well today as she rolled across Rockport just up coast from us and terrorized San Antonio and the Hill Country the rest of the day into tonight. Hawks throughout south and central Texas settled down for a siesta while the rains deluged already-saturated grounds. More rain is expected tomorrow, but hey, this is Texas. We'll know if it's raining when the drops hit the ground. Otherwise, wait five, and the weather will change again!

August 17, 2007:

Dane's report:

Swainson's Hawk = 1

Total = 1

Swainson's Hawk had obvious molting in both wings - both of our 'resident' Swainson's Hawks have perfect feathering ... We did have a beautifully marked Red-eyed Vireo, and a Solitary Sandpiper.

We hope to at least triple our countable Raptors tomorrow ... as always, thanx to our awesome Volunteers !!!

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Thanks, Dane! The remnants of TS Erin appear to have now moved out of the south/central Texas area, which ought to open up the hawk highway aloft once again. Bring 'em on! 

August 18, 2007:

Broad-winged Hawks = 2
Mississippi Kite = 1
Peregrine Falcon = 1
Total = 4

Peregrine was an adult ... we have now established 2 immie Peregrines as locals ... here are some of our other locals: 4 White-tailed Hawks (2 adults, 2 juvies); 2 adult Harris's Hawks ; 3 Swainson's Hawks (light-morph adults); 1 immie Cooper's Hawk; 2 Red-tailed Hawk adults; 1 adult and 1 immie Crested Caracara; 2 Red-shouldered Hawks (1 immie, 1 adult), and, of course, numerous Black and Turkey Vultures. Most likely there are 2 Red-shouldered Hawk adults in Hazel area - we have not seen both adults simultaneously yet.

Other highlights: today Libby and I had a Least Bittern down by pond (which now looks like a lake); yesterday we had 1 Yellow-Warbler.

The moving Raptors may be a little slow, but Hazel still rocks ...

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Thanks, Dane! The skies were wonderfully sunny and clear today. A nice change after TS Erin.

August 19, 2007:

Libby's report:

Another long, slow day on the hill:

Mississippi Kites: 2
Swallow-tailed Kite: 1
Total: 3

We arrived this morning to find Bill Clark waiting - what a great surprise! Our locals were very cooperative in putting on a good show for him with numerous sightings of the White-tailed Hawk juveniles and adults, the Peregrine, a Harris' Hawk, both Swainson's. The 2 Miss. Kites came between 10:00 and 11:00. What a treat to have Bill there to answer our many questions and little known facts about our raptors. Thanks for being so generous with all that knowledge. The Swallow-tailed Kite came in at 4:15 and made us all feel better after about 3 days of frustration. Where could these migrants be? Can they sense Hurricane Dean? Are they waiting for the storm to pass? The answers will be at Hazel!

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Thanks, Libby!

We've all been glued to the data streams and charts this weekend, and are gratified to see Dean's projected path heading far enough south to not impede migration in our neck of the hemisphere. The remnants of TS Erin are still hanging on, having an impact farther north of us as Tulsa, OK and surrounding regions endured more of her tropical deluges. Hugs and thanks to Bill Clark for dropping by. Bill, we hope you'll get to come back some more this fall in between running your own hawk watch tours and banding gigs!

August 20, 2007: 

Dane's report:

Swallow-tailed Kites = 7
Mississippi Kites = 3
Total = 10

I am wearing out batteries for the calculator on these 'Totals' ...

Hazel Rocks ....

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Thanks, Dane!

I imagine the heat from the wings of all of those swallow-tailed kites zipping by has melted a few keys on the old number cruncher, heh! Sporadic showers sprinkled the Central Texas Coast today, ending the day with two rainbows on the coast as squall lines moved through with dark curtains but little wetness leaking out (that I've heard of, anyway). Can't you just feel the pressure wave of early migrants building? This morning, on the barrier island of Port Aransas at my research lab, migrating warblers began dropping by. Just a few, mind you, but a very welcome sight nonetheless. My boss reports steady sightings of frigate birds over his Gulf beach house not far from the jetties, sometimes several at a time. Life is good!:

August 21, 2007:

Libby's report:

Yeah, this is what we been talkin' 'bout:

Mississippi Kites: 110
Swallow-tailed Kites: 17
Peregrine Falcons: 2
Total: 129

A little bit of a late start today due to area showers - we were rained upon several times today. The first 2 1/2 hours brought not one migrant. But THEN a little after noon, Vicki Simon picked up a stream of Swallow-tailed Kites! Four tried to sneak by but Joel grabbed them through the "back door". The remaining ten kettled right overhead - an awesome display! A few Miss. Kites came in on the tail end of that group. We had a couple of respectable kettles of Missies the next 2 hours with a few more Swallow-taileds - the finest coming right down the middle, not more than 30 feet up! One of our local immie Peregrines was harassing the vultures early but moved out when the two immie White-tailed Hawks joined "his" section of the sky AND the first adult Peregrine moved in. The later Peregrine (also an adult) flew about 25 feet up over the 17th tee shortly before Dane made par on that hole. He missed the p-bird but that's what happens when you dare to miss a day on the hill.

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Thanks, Libby! Whoa, baby! A stream of STKI's ... sweet!! Hurricane Dean is supposed to send some wetness our way. Be interesting to see what effects this latest tropical weather will have on our migrants.

August 22, 2007:

Dane's report:

Mississippi Kites = 39
Swallow-tailed Kites = 4
Total = 43

Thirty-nine Mississippi Kites flew as a group, just over our heads; and they had one Swallow-tailed Kite in their Company ... on a rain-shortened day with strong East to Southeast winds, we were thrilled to see these migrating Raptors.

Vicki spotted our first countable Birds; a pair of Swallow-tailed Kites working their way South. Actually, Vicki spotted a lot of our Birds today; including our first Olive-sided Flycatcher, and the first Ruby-throated Hummingbird for our Site-count this season.

Bob spotted a Baltimore Oriole (male); our first one this season.

As is usual; Barbara (Olsen), Art (Olsen), and Jimmy (Swartz) shared their time and knowledge with us today.

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We thought we'd get more of the cast-off rain bands from Dean overhead but the rains were negligible, compared to what we expected. Certainly not enough to keep those kites down! Dean has run its course, thankfully, and now we can get back to the business of just regular Texas weather to contend with. <grin!>

August 23, 2007:

Libby's report:

After a particularly good recent Swallow-tailed Kite day someone pointed out that it still wasn't the record high day. Well, this one is.

Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Swainson's Hawk: 1
Mississippi Kites: 507
Swallow-tailed Kite: 27
Zone-tailed Hawk: 1

Total: 537

Yes, folks, your 2006 record setting crew has just set the first record for 2007.

Swallow-tailed Kite previous record high day of 21 on 8-18-06 has now been blasted!

The first 8 arrived just after 12:30, 17 in the 1:00 - 2:00 hour and our final 2 just after 3:00. They were 22 adults and 5 immies. Can you say AWESOME!!!???!! Give the credit to those incredibly gorgeous birds and join us in hoping they keep on coming.

The STKIs just almost, but not quite, had us forgetting about another Zone-tailed, our first bird of the day. We had two looks at it in the morning and it was seen last in our busy 1:00 - 2:00 hour giving Jimmy and Bob a look at it too. Very nice of it to return.

The morning was mostly spent watching rain showers go by all around us and our local raptors putting on their daily show. It began clearing close to noon and within 30 minutes we had raptors - lots of raptors.

So, the raptors are moving again. Come see them for yourselves!

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Momma!!! Twenty-seven STKI's at once ... wowsa! Bust those numbers wide open! An awesome day, and it's just going to get better and better! Thanks for a fantastic report, Libby! Glad you're all getting the numbers to help offset the sweltering heat and humidity that our typical August weather brings in!

August 24, 2007:

Dane's report:

Broad-winged Hawks = 3
Mississippi Kites = 1366
Swallow-tailed Kites = 15
Peregrine Falcon = 1
Osprey = 1
Crested Caracara = 1
White-tailed Hawks = 2

Total = 1389

Perhaps what they should have said was "go fly like a kite" - instead of "go fly a kite"... Awesome movements by Mississippi Kites. As for Swallow-tailed Kites; Fifteen more of them !!! Please do not wake me up until this dream is over...

Kettles are increasing in size; good thermals, and we had 2 kettles of Mississippi Kites with over 200 Birds.

After a little lull in the afternoon, we had a mini-kettle of Swallow-tailed Kites(9 Birds); followed soon after by a low-flying adult Peregrine Falcon (nice spot, Bob).

Hazel Rocks !

P.S. Patty - the other night I mentioned a few Hazel Bazemore Highlights. I would like to also point out that Belted, Green, and Ringed Kingfishers can be seen at Hazel (although rarely on the same day), a little later in the Fall. And also, in mid-November 2005 - I had an American Woodcock at Hazel. What a place...

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Thanks, Dane! The Mississippis are really flying through now. Best to get through before the next round of storms down here, the rate the weather's been going! The diversity of Hazel is a wonder, it truly is. Every year the list gets better and better. Used to be one had to go to Refugio to have a hope of seeing a green kingfisher with any regularity. Today, the range has expanded, and now Hazel not only hosts one in winter, but as Dane points out, a weekend might just reveal all three! Gotta love the fluidity of ranges!

August 25, 2007:

Libby's report:

Broad-winged Hawks: 3
Swainson's Hawks: 2
Mississippi Kites: 1141
Swallow-tailed Kites: 7
Peregrine Falcons: 2
Northern Harrier: 1

Total: 1156

Another fun day on the hill although it was shortened by rain in the afternoon. At about 2:00 the first showers hit - we made 2 trips up to the shelter and back and then the last storm at 4:30 we called it a day.
Our first Harrier of the count was an immie right up over the road for all to see.
All of the STKIs were adults.
A big thank you to our visitors - Alan and Mary from Poth and Catherine from Plano - all 3 of whom spotted raptors for us today. We really appreciate the extra help.
We are expecting good winds again tomorrow and hopefully another good load of kites and visitors to help spot them.
Hope to see lots of you out there!

P. S. On purpose I did not point out our STKI total to date. Joel has promised not to say anything.

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Thanks, Libby! Spotty rain is in the forecast for the next few days. Should make for some interesting flights as one path then another clears out or gets blocked. It sure won't hold those peregrines or kites back for long, short of running up against a supercell. Good to see the broadies trickling on down.

August 26, 2007:

Mississippi Kites = 167
Swallow-tailed Kites = 22
Unidentified Raptor = 1
Total = 190

22 Swallow-tailed Kites. What more can I say? I am just in awe. Swallow-tailed Kites. You have to see them to believe them .

p.s. Mississippi Kites are way cool as well.

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Thanks, Dane! You betcha; we love our kites! Swallowtails admittedly get a bit more notice; flashy dudes (and dudettes) that they are with their long banner tails. Today's count, for instance; the new total stretched the spreadsheet out one more character, kind of like having to loosen one's belt after a big meal. kind of like having to loosen one's belt a smidge after a big meal. <laugh!> But the Mississippis also entertain us on a continual basis; hunting and eating on the wing as they shoot overhead. What fliers! Get on up to the hill to see them all for yourselves!

August 27, 2007:

Joel's report:

Migrating Raptors- 0
Prothonotary Warbler- 1

Today's rain shortened watch was our first zero day of this season that began on August 1. In fact, last season was our only one without a zero day so our last skunk came in August 2005.

Yesterday we smashed the century mark for Swallow-tailed Kites. We began the day at 99 and I was not allowed to say a word. You see we ended last season with 99 and I had guaranteed we would hit 100......but noooooo......we never got another one after my bragging remarks!!!! We did start two weeks early this season and tallied 17 STKI during this period. But even compared to our normal start date we stand at 104. And I guarantee we will have more!!!

Joel (now off the hook) Simon

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<laughing!> Thanks, Joel! Glad you're off the hook now! That two week early period really paid off in more ways than one. Watchers, keep that chocolate cool and trot yourselves out to your local sites. If you're in the neighborhood, come out to Hazel!

August 28, 2007:

Joel's report:

Swallow-tailed Kite 4
Mississippi Kite 1441
Broad-winged Hawk 8
Swainson's Hawk 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Zone-tailed Hawk 1
Day's Total 1458

The adult male Zone-tailed Hawk was a perfect look right overhead. We had five Red-shoulders in the air at once with the locals defending their territory. This display went on for over 15 minutes. Our largest single group of Mississippi's of the season began streaming just to the east and ended in the west in the scope. This nearly continuous stream of over 950 kites lasted over 20 minutes.

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Thanks, Joel! Great views of that zonie, all right! You can't beat having a migrant come down to shake your hand while winging south! I've always thought one of the best features of our watch location at Hazel Bazemore is the diversity in height of migrants. We've got 'em down on the deck and thousands of feet up, and at all points in between. Great site, or, in the immortal words of our very own Dane Ferrell -- Hazel Rocks!

August 29, 2007:

Dane's report:

Swallow-tailed Kite = 1
Zone-tailed Hawk = 1
Red-tailed Hawk = 1
Total = 3

Another rain-shortened day ... Zone-tailed was harassed by one of the immie White-tailed Hawks for several minutes. It was awesome. Due to glare, we could not get much detail on the Zone-tailed.

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Thanks, Dane! Our own sharp-eyed compiler and former Watch Coordinator, John Economidy, provides an addendum to Dane's report. John notes "the Watch's red book of records reflects that a ZTH stooped on a Peregrine on October 8, 1999." (Thanks, John!!)

Gotta just love hawks with an attitude! Rain squalls from the Gulf have been harassing our hawk watchers in similar manner. In and out, here and there ... no solid lines of storms for a change, but the spotty squalls are just as bothersome. And when the squalls do dump water, boy, it just comes down in sheets! It all makes for some really righteous storm cloud formations and waterspouts, though, especially out in Port Aransas where the squalls seem to pass us by (thank you) and head for the mainland during the day. Blue southers, I guess you could call them. They'll be with us for the next ten days, according to the weather prognosticators. As will the associated mosquitos that poke their irritating little snouts out during the lulls, so be sure to bring your spray to the watch along with extra water and sun protection.

August 30, 2007:

Libby's report:

Broadwings: 5
Unid Buteo: 1
Miss. Kites: 436
N. Harrier: 1
Total: 443

A foggy morning start today with skies "clearing" around noon and raptors moving right on time. Thunderstorms started moving through 3:30 but didn't dump until after passing overhead. Our last bird of the day was the N. Harrier, the second for this season.

Lots of activity today with our Red-Shouldered locals - junior diving on mom & pop, vultures, and juvi Whitetails. Also goods looks at a local immie peregrine fairly low and right out front. We think this bird discovered the flocks of peeps which moved in when the flood plain drained.

We still think there's a big push of Kites coming soon. Don't miss them.

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Thanks, Libby! Rain, rain, hawks, rain, hawks, rain, threat of rain. Oh, and fog! Labor Day weekend promises to be good if the tropical weather continuing to head our way remains more scattered than concentrated. This time of year, spotting any migrants always sends a thrill through me. Had a Swainson's hawk on the way home last night soaring past our house over a neighboring sorghum field. My kind of yard bird! Warblers are trickling by at my Port Aransas lab. Our first curlew (resident, of course) appeared shortly after the grounds keepers churned up plenty of bugs and other critters for all sorts of birds to nosh on. The views of the passing thunderstorms off the Gulf were nothing less than spectacular from Port Aransas all day long. Four waterspouts added to the thrill of the hunt. Waterspouts don't last as long as it takes my camera to de-fog from the interior air conditioning, unfortunately, or I'd have some photos to share. I wondered all day at work if the watch was getting as pounded with as much rain as it appeared the areas between Port Aransas and the mainland seemed to be getting. Glad to hear there was more "scattered" than "rain"!

August 31, 2007:

Dane's report:

Normally, I jump right in with the Bird stats. Today however, I feel compelled to issue this warning: the following numbers Are Not mistakes.

08/31/07

Broad-winged Hawks = 18
Swainson's Hawks = 8
Unidentified Buteo = 1
Turkey Vultures = 3
Mississippi Kites = 12,261
Swallow-tailed Kites = 7
Total = 12,298

Total = 12,298 (in case you did not believe your eyes the first time).

It was Bob's birthday and so we let him count Kites for 3 or 4 hours straight. At one point we had 3 major streams going South at one time! Our clickers were cranking. We were joined by several members of the Audubon Outdoor Club to watch Raptors and celebrate Bob's 3rd 22nd birthday. We had more than 1 kettle of 1,000 plus Kites; and several solid kettles directly overhead. People were dancing in the streets - it was madness! At times we had 7 or 8 clickers working between 4 Counters.

Some primo counting and spotting by our regulars and by our friend Karen Smith. (get back out as soon as you can Karen!)

For those interested in records; I am pretty sure we set a few today. Put the records aside - for those that are fortunate enough to look upwards and see the skies filled with Kites; well the magnitude of the spectacle is reward enough...

Hazel rocks...

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Thanks, Dane! Don't it just figure! Go out of town for a few days, and the hawks decide to mimic holiday traffic, too, and come down like gangbusters! Aren't you glad you were on the hill? (Don't I wish I were? Ohhh, yeah!). Awesome day and awesome way to close out the month. Extra chocolate rations all around for a great month! A very good warm up to the bigger numbers yet to come!
    

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