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

Adventures at Bentsen RGV - Part 2

Red Bird of Paradise 

We are in our 6th week on the Hawk Tower at Bentsen RGV State Park in Mission,Texas and it has been a different adventure every day.  We have seen over 130 species of birds here but rarely over 70 on any given day.  There are blooming flowers full of insects and birds, the weather has been extremely hot and humid but that is to be expected in this sub-tropic area along the Rio Grande. 

Long-billed Thrasher, one of the many South Texas birds endemic to the area

Cattle Egrets make a friend, located right behind our RV Park

Panamanian Golden Tortoise Beetle - one half inch jewel

Couch's Kingbird has dragonfly for breakfast

Green Garden Bug

Cane Toad - half a foot tall x foot long

Groove-billed Ani, all fluffed up
Most have left for Mexico

Great Kiskadee, our largest flycatcher

Buff-bellied Hummingbird - another jewel of South Texas

Plain Chachalaca -  noisy flocks are scattered throughout the park

Resident Gray Hawk

Texas Gopher Tortoise

Desert Brown Tarantula

Tobacco Hornworm Moth

Vine Sphinx Moth

Javelina or Collared Peccary roam throughout the park

The tiny Green Kingfisher 

Curve-billed Thrasher

Dew covered spider web

The White-eyed Vireo brightens our day with it's cheery song

Northern Harrier passes by the Hawk Tower

Harris's Hawk catches the early morning sun

One of our more rare species - White-tailed Hawk

Green Lynx Spider

Cloud to cloud horizontal rainbow

We have had over 75,000 raptors, 22 different species counted from the hawk tower,  it has been amazing seeing so many birds.  We have 16 days left until the official hawk count is done.  If you are interested in seeing the hawk counts from all over North America, you can go to www.hawkcount.org and find a place near you.

Love & Prayers,
Ty & Ida Baumann