FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Swallow-tailed Kite, Greene Co.

[dnldhlt@xxxxxxx]

     Around 3:15 pm Sunday 13 AUG 2006, at Camp Creek Bald (36.0300 N, 82.7100 
W) in Greene Co., TN, a Swallow-tailed Kite was observed by five local birders 
while they were participating in the third annual South Greene County, TN 
Butterfly Count.  The observers were Dianne Draper, Don Holt, Jim Holt, Larry & 
Jo Anne Routledge.  The kite was seen flying in both Greene County, TN and in 
Madison County, NC.
     We were counting butterflies in the gap (elev. ca 4500 ft) that lies 
between the high knob of Little Bald Mountain on the west and Jones Meadow on 
the east (using place names from the Greystone TN/NC USGS Topo Quad).  I first 
spotted a large raptor flying on the north (TN) side of the saddle.  It was 
roughly Peregrine sized, and since Peregrines are known to nest nearby, I was 
alerting the others to look when it turned to reveal the long wings with black 
flight feathers and white underwing linings, white head and body, and long 
forked black tail.  It was flying just a little above our eye level, at a 
distance on the order of around 100 yards away.  The weather was calm and 
partly cloudy, with unusually clear air and good visibility beneath the high 
clouds.
     The kite was swooping back and forth in the company of a flock of small 
birds, at least several of which were apparently Barn Swallows.  Although an 
occasional swallow appeared to dive towards the kite, they seemed for the most 
part to associate in a non-belligerent fashion.  The kite and swallows moved 
off to the west toward the high knob where the communication towers are 
located.  They moved in an out of sight behind the knob several times, 
gradually working their way around to the south (NC) side of the gap.  Once the 
kite dove briefly, revealing the topview of its back and head.  I was struck by 
the contrast between its white head and the rest of its black topside.  (My 
fuzzy mental picture of the species had failed to appreciate how little white 
showed when viewed from that angle.)  Gradually the kite receded into the 
distance until I was distracted and lost sight of it.  Jim Holt told me that he 
saw it circle around toward the east, and he later walked up through 
 the meadow to look for it again, but without success.  I estimate we watched 
the kite for a period of about ten minutes.
     Jim tried to telephone Don Miller who was counting butterflies at lower 
elevations, but was only able to leave a message.  He took care to be clear 
that he was talking about a Swallow-tailed Kite, and not a Kite Swallowtail.  
:-)
 
Let's go butterflying!
Don Holt
Johnson City, TN
 
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