OHIO-BIRDS Archives

September 2007

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From:
Ben Crow <[log in to unmask]>
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Date:
Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:07:19 -0400
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Yesterday evening at 7:14pm 2 Mississippi Kites were observed over Swan Township in northern Vinton County!!!

My wife spotted the first bird as is came over us and we initially thought that it was a Coopers Hawk.  I had binoculars on and when it came into focus it did not seem to be the right coloration for an adult or a juvenille coopers.  The wing and tail shapes diid not seem quite right either.  When it flapped its wings and flared its tail widely I began to get wonder.  On about the third or fourth pass overhead (in good light)I was able to see that the primary projection was short!  Then things began to add up.  The very rufous underwing color, the wing and tail shapes, and the filght style HAD to mean that I was actually looking at a Juvenille Mississippi Kite!!!  The clincher was when the Juvenile swooped down to just above the treetops to successfully catch an insect (dragonfly?)!!!

After catching a bite to eat the bird moved over the field east of our house where it was joined by an Adult Kite!!!  The second bird was grayish underneath with a dark tail.  When they were in close proximity to each other they circled a couple of time and began to slowly glide to the southeast.    

The viewing only lasted a few minutes but the memory wil last a lifetime.

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