On Tue, Aug 24, 2021, 15:03 Alicia Hulse <hulse2027@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thanks for the heads up! Went down around noon today. Two swallow-tailed,
9-10 Mississippi (a lifer for us), and 6 birders! All viewed from the
cidery, although they were also visible from Banner Farm.
Sent from my iPad
On Aug 23, 2021, at 8:53 PM, Cinda Chima <cindachima1@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Gorgeous photos! I’ve seen kites wintering in Florida but never around
here.
Cinda
On Aug 23, 2021, at 8:27 PM, alan lenk <adlenk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Friends,
As Jay just mentioned, there's a bit of a bird show going on in Mills
River, a kite show be exact. My show was seen this morning after scanning
the skies above the fields to find the kites. First looking and spotting
them along Banner Farm Rd. just east of the intersection with School House
Rd. Then along Jeffrees Rd. about a half mile east of the intersection
with Hwy 191. Swallow-tail Kites and Mississippi Kites were both observed,
but swallowtail were much more abundant. It's easy to tell the difference
between these kites by size, color and shape. The Swallowtail is roughly
22" in length with a wingspan of 51" (photo 1), compared to the
Mississippi with 14'' length and 31" wingspan (photo 2). Color is
distinctive: the swallowtail underside is black and white. A white head,
belly, and underwing coverts. The top side of this kite shows shiny black
wings and tail with the white head (photo 3). Mississippi coloration is
more variable, especially juvenile birds. I only saw juvenile birds,
bearing a spotted brown breast and forewings with a brown tinge (photo
4). The head is pale. Adults tend to be more uniform gray in color. The
shape differences between these kites is a no brainer. The swallowtail
has the long forked tail that is totally lacking in the Mississippi's
rather square or flared tail, depending on position.
Both kites fly with grace, precision, and maneuverability. The command
of their air space is needed to catch prey, often intercepting insects such
as dragonflies and cicadas in flight. Swallowtails especially were
observed diving abruptly to hawk an insect (photo 5). Catching the prey in
their claws they were seen transferring food to their mouth (photo 6).
Both of these birds come to our area to breed and have chicks before
returning to Central and South American this fall. Don't miss out seeing
them while they are still here and displaying their wonder. The last photo
shows a swallowtail passing right over my head with a insect securely in it
claws.
Alan Lenk
Asheville
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