Greetings...
I went by Huntley Meadows midday today in search of the Mississippi Kite
discovered yesterday. From 12:55 until 1:25 I watched two kites wheeling in
the blustery wind over the trees. Unfortunately, they were both Mississippi
Kites. At least one bird was in view virtually the entire time I was there.
Their antics in the wind were pretty amazing, though the view of the birds
wasn't particularly impressive.
The pond and marsh were teeming with swifts and swallows. There were
probably two chimney swifts for each swallow seen, totaling maybe sixty
swifts. This is about as good a look at swifts as you can get. Many are
below eye level, and many are almost within arms reach. Purple martin was
the only swallow that one expects in northern Virginia that I didn't have. I
didn't count Tree or Barn swallows, but I had five rough-winged, one cliff,
and two bank swallows (it is hard to be completely accurate in the wind).
The wind made viewing somewhat difficult, but it also helped in seeing them.
When the birds would fly into the wind, they would move forward very slowly
allowing for good looks in a scope.
Aside from the above birds, the marsh was pretty quiet. The only Ardeid that
I saw was a single Great Egret.
In the parking lot, Sue Heath and Greg Justice had a Gray-cheeked Thrush
before I got there. I checked the lot as I was leaving, and managed two
Swainson's Thrushes and one Magnolia Warbler. All told it was a fine way to
spend an hour.
Cheers...
Todd
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Todd Day
Jeffersonton, VA
Culpeper County
Blkvulture@xxxxxxx
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