Friday, November 2, 2018

Bentsen Hawk Watch Plus


Dawn breaks on our last day on the hawk tower as the official fall migration count ended with 144,358 raptors during September and October.  Amazing time through a roller coaster of weather from days of the high 90's to cold and drizzly 60's that actually chills to the bone. 
Red-shouldered Hawk come in close to the tower

Broad-winged Hawk, our most numerous migrant

When the cold front hit, dropping the temps 30 dgrees in minutes, the Cave Swallows huddled together for warmth

Couch's Kingbird

Winter plumage Vermilion Flycatcher

A South Texas specialty - the colorful Green Jay

We had company on the hawk tower - a Walking Stick

Once a week when we go for groceries, we see lots of Scissors-tailed Flycatchers gathering along the fields.

Lark Sparrow arrived at the RV park- is he a Winter Texan?

Black Swallowtail

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Hidden under the brush for his daytime sleep is the Common Pauraque,  great hearing them call at dawn.

The tiny Inca Dove

Short-wing Katydid

American Snout

Resident Gray Hawk does a little leg stretch

Not easy to find, the tiny Green Kingfisher fishes by the canal

Javelina 

Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Love to see these guys
except tipping our hummingbird feeder.

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Giant Wolf Spider with egg mass

Silver Garden Spider

Cooper's Hawk

Golden Orb Weaver's dewey web

Northern Harrier

American Kestrel - check those "pearls" along the wings

Resident Harris's Hawk takes a daily fly past the tower

White-tailed Kite does a close flyover 




We now have a month left at Bentsen Palm Village RV Park and time to explore some other area birding areas.  Butterflies are really flying in so the next blog should have a good variety.

Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann

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