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Greetings from the Corpus Christi Hawkwatch
platform! Are you ready for some fall fun!?
August 15, 2009:
Patty says: Kevin Georg is back on
the hill with us for the fall season!! You remember Kevin; he and Bob
Baez from our HWI-sponsored sister site, Smith Point, came over to our
watch last fall after their site was destroyed by Hurricane Ike. We're
thrilled to have Kevin back (those guys who kidnapped you and brought
you back to us? That was just a coincidence, Kevin. Really!) And the
official opening and welcoming party got off to a rousing start with an
unusual leader in the raptor count for the very first day! Check out
Kevin's report below:
Mississippi Kites: 41
Swallow-tailed Kites: 49
Peregrine Falcons: 2
Unid. Raptor: 1
Total: 93
Kevin says: Hot day, hotdogs, homemade brownies and hot birds,
celebrated opening day at Hazel with a kettle/stream of 22
swallow-tailed kites and another kettle/stream of 21 Swallow-tailed
Kites a little later in the day.
Patty says: And, you guys should know that Jo Creglow and I brought in
one of the big kettles of Swallow-tailed Kites when we gamely
volunteered to remove ourselves from the platform and go uphill to the
pavilion to work on an educational display layout for one of the park
kiosks. We weren't even 50 yards from the platform when we were later
gleefully informed that more than a dozen Swallow-tailed Kites almost
immediately appeared! *sigh* ... Well, someone had to make the sacrifice
... on the up side ... Jo and I did get to see the last big kettle of 16
or so towards the end of the day! Also, hugs to Debbie and Beth for the
heavy-duty hawk bait for opening day ... those homemade brownies (TWO
kinds, mind you!) were outstanding! Apparently, they work on
Swallow-tailed Kites, too! Get on out to your watches, folks ... we're
back in action!
August 16, 2009:
Mississippi Kites: 6
Swallow-tailed Kites: 16
Osprey: 1
Total: 23
Libby says: Another good August day on the hill! All of the Kites
arrived between noon and two. Always seems a little cooler when there
are Kites in the sky. Swallow-tails came in a pair, then a kettle of 6,
then a kettle of 8. Both of those kettles had two immies each in them -
awesome!
Late in the day, just as we felt we
might all be found as melted puddles of sweat, Judy Clifford brought us
ice cream. We all screamed for ice cream. Half gallon of vanilla and 5
spoons - gone in 15 minutes. It's good to be a hawkwatcher at Hazel.
Thanks Judy.
Patty says: What fun! Yay for Judy!
Hey, you guys know we're always experimenting with new forms of hawk
bait, so bring along your favorite concoction and we'll run field
consumption trials on each one!
August 17, 2009:
Mississippi Kites: 17
Swallow-tailed Kites: 20
Total: 37
Kevin says: A kettle of 20 Swallow-tailed Kites flew over in the 1:00 to
2:00 pm hour. There were 11 adults, 1 immature and 8 individuals not aged
in this awesome kettle.
Patty says: The Swallow-tailed Kites
are catching up fairly well after a late start and rain delays up coast.
Good to see such good numbers again!
August 18, 2009:
Mississippi Kites: 10
Swallow-tailed Kites: 10
Total: 20
Libby says: The rarest sighting of the season so far - RAIN
No....really.....it was rain! We had a "two-incher" on the platform
(there's 2 inches between the rain drops). Not much on us but we did get
to see small showers moving by most of the day. The pond in the park is
quickly turning into a mud puddle. Shorebirds love it and species
diversity is increasing. I think at least the days' evaporated amount
was replaced by the teensiest bit of rain.
Kites came at the usual time - one-ish
- and we had more between 3 and 4. Dark gray clouds and strong wind
gusts kept them low - probably the best Kite photo ops of the season.
Expecting more and greater things tomorrow!
Libby
Patty says: RAIN! Wow! Yes, it was exciting. Bill and I traveled across
four counties this morning, bidding a final farewell to a friend. Rain
was all around us. Never fell directly on us, but very glad to hear it
hit the platform. Wish it'd hit our homes!
A question that comes up these days,
with the extremely severe drought south Texas currently is experiencing
--- how does the drought affect the hawk migration and watch areas?
Really good question! The thing to remember is migration is a fluid
experience. Raptors are traveling from their spring-summer homes to
their winter homes, and all our watch stations are pretty much little
more than stopover points along the route. For the most part, the majority of
raptors do not feed at normal rates, if at all, during flights, and
those that do may find forage a little thinner in the drought areas. But
in terms of habitat, cover and perch, not much has changed. Our
grasslands are definitely fried due to lack of rain, The trees are
conserving energies and may not have quite all the leaving that one
might usually find this time of year. In terms of forage, for those
migrants that nosh along the way (the power flyers, like kites and
falcons), it may take a tad more effort to find enough insects, but at
the moment, there's no reason to think our area drought will have any
significant detrimental effect on migration. As you know, the largest
factor affecting migration is weather, and not just over the watch
sites, but all along the flyways the raptors travel. Ironically, nearly
everyone in the country seems to have gotten more rain than us, and it
appears that may have played a part in slowing down the migration a
smidge, as evidenced by the later than usual arrivals of kites over our
site. Just some thoughts.
August 19, 2009:
Mississippi Kites:16
Swallow-tailed Kites:18
Osprey:1
Total: 35
Kevin says: Most of the birds came
during the 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. hour.
August 20, 2009:
Mississippi Kite: 1
Swallow-tailed Kite: 3
Peregrine Falcon: 1
Total: 5
Libby says: Your counters know that days like this are part and
parcel - but two in a row? I'm pretty sure Kevin went delirious around 3
when our Sherpa (weather instrument) hit 104 for the second day. I'm not
exactly sure because my head was under the faucet getting a cool-down
soaking. I do not know what the heat index reached and let's just keep
it that way. We know the kites are coming, they'll be here in good
numbers any day now, and we are ready. I'm sure things will cool down as
well so come on out for a visit - if for nothing else, bring ICE COLD
anything!
August 21, 2009:
Broad-winged Hawk: 1
Swainson's Hawk: 1
White-tailed Hawk: 1
Mississippi Kite: 11
Swallow-tailed Kite: 1
Total: 15
Libby says: Wow! We saw rain again today. Thunder and lightning
too. Not a soaker by any stretch but way better than a drizzle - about a
10 minute shower. It may seem silly to some that I talk so about rain
but it is a sad sight for us to see our beautiful park in such a sad,
brown, crispy state. Our raptors seem to be coping well but one can tell
by looking that all the wildlife is severely stressed by the drought.
Speaking of our local raptors, the migrant Swainson's and White-tail
were both escorted out by residents. One resident White-tailed Hawk
adult had to get fairly aggressive with the intruder - a fabulous show
while the other White-tail parent and this year's juvenile looked on
from higher in the sky. You can just hear the male say: "Don't worry
honey, I'll take care of this." And off he goes.
Come out this weekend and let us share these marvels with you!
August 22, 2009:
Broad-winged Hawk: 5
Mississippi Kite: 1157
Swallow-tailed Kite: 5
Total: 1167
Kevin says: It was a quiet morning today, then, starting the 1:00
hour, we had 4 Swallow-tailed Kites and in the 2:00 hour we had over
1000 Mississippi Kites. Thanks to all people who came today and thanks
again for the cookies! For the lady from Indiana who waited patiently
for her Swallow-tailed Kite ... it showed up 30 minutes later.....
sorry. (Libby made me write that.) A special thanks to our friends Steve
& Linda from Seguin who treated the counters to pizza.
Patty says: Yet another scorcher
today, and promises of more of the same all during the coming week.
There's been rain off and on for weeks up coast around Houston/Smith
Point. Maybe the kites will bring some of it along with them on their
way to us!
August 23, 2009:
Broad-winged Hawk: 3
Zone-tailed Hawk: 1
Mississippi Kite: 43
Swallow-tailed Kite: 5
Osprey: 1
Unid Raptor: 1
Total: 54
A scorcher on the hill today, but it always helps when the birds are
flying (or when somebody brings us goodies). Most birds today were
winker-blinkers in the west, so we worked hard to pull them out of the
sky. Any day now the Missies are really gonna go through in big numbers.
Those of you working 9 to 5 might want to think about playing hooky
soon. Dane will be on the hill starting Monday and he says they've been
waiting for him. He might be right.
A hawkwatch alum visited with us
yesterday - 2005 counter Brian Bielfelt made an appearance with his
lovely bride, Melissa. Seems Brian couldn't stand to be away from Texas
any longer and has moved here for graduate studies. We're gonna see what
we can talk him into as far as helping out this season. Welcome back
Brian.
Patty says: Texas and our hawk watch in particular have that
effect on folks; just can't stay away! Whoo, hoo! Brian, welcome back
and hugs to your sweetie, Melissa. Great to have you back in town!
August 24, 2009:
Mississippi Kite: 181
Swallow-tailed Kite: 11
Unid Raptor: 1
Total: 193
Libby says: A good size kettle of 152 Missies early today (around 11:).
Awesome to see straight up over the platform. A few Swallow-tails came
with that group but the bulk of them - 7 - were together at their
currently appointed hour - between 1 and 2. They certainly are being
cooperative this year but now that I've said that, they will change.
Come on out and see!
August 25, 2009:
Broad-winged Hawk:2
Mississippi Kite:8
Swallow-tailed Kite:4
Total: 14
Kevin says: Long, hot day. Peak days for Mississippi Kites
approaching.
August 26, 2009:
Broad-winged Hawks = 2
Red-tailed Hawks = 1
Mississippi Kites = 101
Swallow-tailed Kites = 15
Cooper's Hawks = 1
Total = 120
Dane says: Okay, Mississippi Kites, you can come out of hiding now, we
are ready! Excellent Swallow-tailed Kite day; if I am not mistaken, this
is our latest double-digit day for this magnificent species. I will let
the historians verify this, thank you.
Both the Red-tailed Hawk and Cooper's Hawk were escorted through the
territory by local Birds of the same species.
Non-Raptor highlights included Curve-billed Thrasher, Roseate Spoonbill,
Dickcissel, and Orchard Oriole. We are seeing large groups of Anhinga
almost hourly, and also consistent flights of White Ibis.
We are entering the very heart of Mississippi Kite peak; so before our
clickers start rusting away from no use - come on down, Mississippi
Kites! We'll leave a light on for you!
Hazel rocks...
John Economidy says: History books confirm you are correct that the 15
Swallow-tailed Kites on Aug 26 represented the latest date at Hazel
Bazemore recorded STKs in double digits. Prior record was August 25, in
which 17 STKs were recorded in 2008 and 2005. Hope you break that
record.
Patty says: Thanks, John! We hope so, too!
August 27, 2009:
Broad-winged Hawk: 3
Mississippi Kite: 13
Swallow-tailed Kite: 3
Total: 19
Libby says: While not big numbers still a great day on the hill. Migrant
raptors starting trickling through at 11:00 and didn't stop until around
3:00. Big numbers coming!
August 28, 2009:
Broad-winged Hawk: 5
Mississippi Kites: 3628
Cooper's Hawk: 1
Aplomado Falcon: 1
Unknown Buteo: 1
Unknown Raptor: 1
Total: 3637
Dane says: Such a dilemma; do I first talk about the steady and
impressive kettles/streams of Mississippi Kites, or should I first talk
about the Aplomado Falcon?
Let us start with Kites. Clay Taylor stopped by, and spotted our first
Mississippi Kite group of the day - excellent! After this flight of 84
Mississippi Kites, we had kettles and streams every few minutes for the
rest of the day.
We had 3 streams of over 400 Birds, and in total 11 streams consisting
of at least 100 Kites! Zero Swallow-tailed Kites, but we hope to change
that trend tomorrow(08/29).
As for the Aplomado Falcon; first let me stipulate that the following
statement is not based on exact science, but is simply a personal wish
of mine; for the past several years we have observed 1 or 2 Aplomado
Falcon(s) here at Hazel Bazemore during our Fall Hawkwatch - with all of
my heart I hope in some way this means the recovery effort is paying
off.
This slender, long-tailed Bird came directly at us from the North. Libby
and I were the only two to get on this Falcon the first time around.
Unbelievably, this Aplomado came back at us from the South, and we had
extended looks as it worked East to West over the golf course to our
South. This second pass allowed our Volunteers and Guests to enjoy this
awesome Falcon. Light was such that we could not age this Bird, but this
in no way detracted from the thrill of seeing such an excellent
creature.
August 29, 2009:
Broad-winged Hawk: 6
Unid. Buteo: 2
Mississippi Kite: 9424
Swallow-tailed Kite: 2
Amer. Kestrel: 2
Peregrine Falcon: 2
Northern Harrier: 3
Osprey: 1
Total: 9442
I had a dream ... 3800+ Mississippi Kites streaming overhead. Okay, in
my dream the stream consisted of 10 Birds across for the duration of the
flight. This did not happen.
These Kites moved through, mostly in swarms, only to move back North
again. There must have been storms South of us, as some these Kites
moved South, West, and then South once again (if we were lucky)!
The stream of 3800+ luckily did move right on through. This was one of
the largest Mississippi Kite movements I have witnessed.
One of the Swallow-tailed Kites gave us a very high-quality look - which
is never a bad thing...
We want to thank Joel for the Saturday program, and Sandy the Dog for
cleaning Kevin's binoculars.
Hazel Rocks,
Kevin, Dane, and Libby...
August 30, 2009:
Broad-winged Hawk: 19
Mississippi Kite: 2720
American Kestrel: 1
Northern Harrier: 2
Osprey: 2
Unid. Raptor: 1
Total: 2745
A fabulous day of hawkwatching with kites flying through steady from
10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. We had high streams, low streams, big
groups and little groups. Terrific to see more harriers and kestrels -
we may have a female kestrel hanging around the park.
August 31, 2009:
Broad-winged Hawk: 2
Mississippi Kite: 40
Total: 42
A slow Monday on the hill probably due to scattered rain showers around
us and blocking the pathway to the north.
Groove-billed Anis were drinking at our drip this morning and Blue
Grosbeak was reported in the park. Also, Baltimore Orioles arrived today
and were quickly emptied the hummingbird feeder.
Happy Birthday to Bob and thanks for sharing your cake and popsicles
with your hawkwatching buddies.
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