Oct 4 Brazos Bottoms Hawk Watch
37 species observed, including 7 hawk species, observed in
Burleson County at Aquacultural Research and Training Facility,
along FM 50 and along the extension of 1361 to the Brazos River.
12 observers.
Common Name |
Number |
Great Blue Heron |
1 |
Great Egret |
19 |
Snowy Egret |
7 |
Little Blue Heron |
1 |
Cattle Egret |
50 |
White-faced Ibis |
1 |
Where Middle Bayou intersects FM50, near FM60. |
|
Black Vulture |
3 |
Turkey Vulture |
common |
Cooper's Hawk |
1 |
Red-shouldered Hawk |
2 |
First bird (an immature) observed at Aquaculture, second off Hwy 50. Unusual sight was to see the following odd collection of birds perched in the same tree: immature Red-shouldered Hawk, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, 2 Am. Crows, 2 Great Egrets and a Loggerhead Shrike. |
|
Broad-winged Hawk |
27 |
Flocks of 1, 13, 10 at Aquaculture. Another 3 in Brazos Bottoms off Hwy 50. Observed from about 10 AM to noon. |
|
Swainson's Hawk |
122 |
Flocks of 16, 15, 5, 40, 33 plus 13 singles. The first 40 at Aquaculture and the rest off Hwy 50 just past Buffalo Ranch. Observed from about 9 AM to noon. Also saw dark phase Swainson's and an intermediate phase Swainson's. |
|
Red-tailed Hawk |
2 |
American Kestrel |
20 |
Mostly one at a time, with about 6 at Aquaculture and the rest along FM 50 or side roads from 8:30 to 12:30. |
|
Merlin |
2 |
Viewed both of them for 45 min and then saw one again a half hour later, in flight and at rest. Most amazing was to see Merlin perched adjacent to Am. Kestrel in dead tree, so that both could be viewed in the telescope at the same time, showing obvious difference in size. |
|
Killdeer |
30 |
Greater Yellowlegs |
1 |
Spotted Sandpiper |
1 |
Baird's Sandpiper |
4 |
Where Middle Bayou intersects FM50, near FM60. |
|
Common Snipe |
1 |
Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
1 |
Red-bellied Woodpecker |
1 |
Downy Woodpecker |
2 |
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher |
15+ |
Barn Swallow |
25 |
Blue Jay |
a few |
American Crow |
common |
Carolina Chickadee |
3 |
Carolina Wren |
2 |
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher |
1 |
Loggerhead Shrike |
several |
Northern Cardinal |
1 |
Indigo Bunting |
10 |
Where Old River crosses the farm road that would be the extension of 1361 heading toward the river. |
|
Lark Sparrow |
1 |
Red-winged Blackbird |
several flocks |
Brown-headed Cowbird |
flocks |
Several large flocks swirling through the air like insects. |