[TN-Bird] Kites in Bledsoe County
- From: tnbarredowl@xxxxxxx
- To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2011 22:12:52 -0400 (EDT)
Bledsoe County
As David reported earlier for me, I had a great kite day in Bledsoe County. I
had tried for the Swallow-tailed on July 28, but was unsuccessful. I had to
travel to Knoxville today, so I took the Sequatchie Valley route...much more
scenic than I-75 or I-40. I arrived at Granny Ruth's Garden about 2:00 CT, but
saw nothing soaring. Wind was light from the south and skies were overcast.
After about an hour of waiting, I decided to check out the area and look for
some early woodland migrants. Woodland birds were also missing, so I headed
back to Granny's Garden around 4:00 CT. I noticed a group of Turkey Vultures
soaring over the western part of the valley, so I looked there first. I did
see one smaller bird, so I set up my scope for a better view. After a few
minutes, the bird banked and was easily ID'd as a Red-tailed Hawk. I scanned
to the left and noticed another bird, this one definitely soared like a kite!
I watched as it moved slowly south, and on several occasions I could see the
white head. Then it banked and I could see the gray belly and long black,
square tail. This was a Mississippi Kite! My first thought...nice bird. Then
I thought...my luck, get a great bird, but it's not the kite I need to see in
Tennessee! I kept scanning back to the north, toward the vultures, and saw
another kite soaring. This one also had a white head, but when it banked I
could clearly see the black forked tail...the Swallow-tailed Kite! I scanned
back toward the Mississippi Kite, and it was still there. Scanning back toward
the Swallow-tailed, I thought I saw a kite soaring briefly, but it dropped
below the tree line. Then, I found the Swallow-tailed just a bit to the left
of where it was originally. It was at a great distance to the north, so I
thought I might could get a better view from somewhere else. I traveled north
along East Valley Road until I came to Terry Road (note: Garmin said it went
through to Hwy. 127, but it does not). About 0.75 miles down Terry Road, I
came to a large opening (pasture to the south, corn to the north), and began
looking south. I immediately saw three birds soaring over the nearby trees
south of the pasture. I set up my scope and got great views of three
Mississippi Kites! I stayed there about 10 minutes, but never saw the
Swallow-tailed from this spot. This was several miles north of Granny's
Garden, and the first Mississippi Kite was almost due west of the garden.
There actually could have been four Mississippi Kites in the area, though I
will officially report only three. Not a bad day when you can see Mississippi
AND Swallow-tailed Kites together in Tennessee!!
Damien Simbeck
Killen, AL
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