FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Swainson's Hawks!

[Kerrie Kirkpatrick <hawkowl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This evening at about 6:00pm, I looked up from my yardwork to see
several Turkey Vultures circling overhead.  As the local TV's have
departed (they don't winter here!), I took a closer look.  There were a
couple of nighthawks with them - and 5 big pale birds.  I tore into the
house to get the binocs that were supposed to be around my neck, and got
back in time to see 5 Swainson's Hawks circling over my yard!!!

They circled up and north, for 5 minutes, almost out of sight, then
headed south very high, with the TV's moving out under them, still at
close to tree top level.  A wonderful sight for an
'out-of-the-line-of-flight' hawkwatcher!

Since I couldn't possibly stop looking up, I went to the lawn chair and
kept watch.  Several of nighthawks were in the air, though they were
hunting, I couldn't tell if they were also migrating.  Another large
hawk appeared to the north, and I expedted another Swainson's.  As it
approached, the Nighthawks started kettling - lots of them.  The large
bird suddenly stooped the kettle, becoming a Peregrine in action.  What
a show!   3 stoops, nearly catching one careless nighthawk.  The young
falcon gave up and headed on south.

Nighthawks kept going over, so I started counting, realizing that they
could be cirlcling.  Ended with 110 coming out of the north during 1
hour, plus another kettle of 50 at 7:00pm.

Nighthawks have been hunting over the town all through August, in groups
of several to 2 dozen, morning and evening.  It has been excellent to
see them working at treetop level (about 3 stories tall) in good light.
They make great yard birds!  During the day, they can be seen resting on
fence posts, horizontal tree branches and wires throughout the area.

Kerrie Kirkpatrick
Peabody KS
Marion Co.

You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email 
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.