VA Birders,
I took 3 NVBC birding friends, Bill Cross, Lori Keeler, and Betty
Kilgore, to the Marriott Ranch in Fauquier Co. this morning to look for the
Swallow-tailed Kite. We arrived about 10 am to find Todd Day, Sue Heath, and
several other birders with scopes at the ready. They had seen the kite about
9 am on the west side, but their looks had been at some distance. We waited
for about an hour and a half, with just a couple of really distant glimpses
of the bird which, by the way, was to the east at this time. Then, around
11:30 am, Bill spotted the bird flying up above the treeline, and then it
headed our way, flying up to the white house just beyond the office and out
into the open, giving all of us who were there at the time spectacular, up
close and personal views. We must have watched the bird for about at least
15 minutes. During part of this time it was interacting with an Am.
Kestrel--it looked like they took turns chasing each other! Finally, the
kite flew back to the east (I think) and disappeared again, and we decided it
was time for lunch. So the 4 of us went to the Rail Stop on Rt. 55 in The
Plains to celebrate the kite with a nice lunch.
Please note that the mileage figures in my directions last night were
approximate and that they could be off by half a mile or so. However, folks
there this morning said that they worked.
Also, please note that the staff people in the Business Office at the
ranch have learned that a wonderful rare bird can attract a lot of people!
So that they can have space to park in front of the office when they are
working there (Monday-Friday; the office is closed weekends), they have put a
"Swallow-tailed Kite Parking" sign beyond the office on the fence by the
white house, with an arrow indicating where they would like us to park. Be
sure to park in the designated area, especially if you go on a weekday when
the office is open.
Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email
to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx. To unsubscribe, send email to
va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
