I spent Sunday morning with the Crosby swallow-tailed kite clan. The young of the year birds were out flying and hunting to some extent like this bird http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373052 Note the shorter tail streamers than on the adult http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373051 The adults have much longer tail streamers http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373039 They come close http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373041 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373040 The adults eat their aerial food up there http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373045 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373047 I am not sure what was grabbed, but this bird has its foot out and it took something just a second later http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373050 Lots of adults around and they all sit up early in the morning http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373010 The youngsters also have brownish feather edgings on the head and chest http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373011 Some are less marked than others or since the color is just on the tips of the feathers, these birds a little more worn. http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373012 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373013 But most are fairly well marked. The color fades much sooner than the similar color on young white-tailed kites http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373014 this youngster just sat around waiting to be fed but after half an hour he was not fed by a returning parent and circled high up apparently hunting with them http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373018 But while sitting he preened http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373019 Posed like a fierce eagle http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373023 The color is on top of the head too http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373025 And also posed for a while like a sunning turkey vulture http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156373027 American crows were out on a nearby street http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156372659 http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156372658 And bambi was out too http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/156372660 All the pictures and more can be browsed at http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/inbox -- Joseph C. Kennedy on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx Edit your Freelists account settings for TEXBIRDS at //www.freelists.org/list/texbirds Reposting of traffic from TEXBIRDS is prohibited without seeking permission from the List Owner
