ML112326031
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
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- Tags
- Field notes/sketch; No bird
Observation details
On August 21 during a break in the rain (while setting up a campsite), the sun came out and much to my surprise I saw a Mississippi Kite flying due west about 100 yards overhead - straight line flight. Great view with sunlight on pale gray body and darker wings - long square tail with some banding - sharp wingtips - my guess was a juvenile. I am currently watching prestaging of Mississippi Kites along the coast but never expected to see one at Pisgah - I see them at my house and have seen hundreds prestaging for migration. Came to see Nighthawk and warbler migration and saw this? Well I'll be. Mississippi kite in the mountains - how can that be? Here is the story as I see it. Wayne Forsythe saw 20 at the Super Sod in Mills River on August 14, 2018. There were thunder storms around on the 21st and had a 30 minute break in the storms and blue sky before another storm moved in - the kites flew through this window. I saw one kite but there could (probably) have been more. Mississippi Kites are migrating and most go by land (Texas rather than over the Gulf) to South America - 12.52 miles from Super Sod and due west up the Mills River Valley seems like a good migration route from Super Sod! On the coast, I watch kite prestaging starting in late July till mid August. The Allendale, SC area (30 mile radius) is used by Swallow-tails and the salt marshes of the coast is what the Mississippi's prefer. I have been watching them for 8 years - best day was about 600 Swallow-tails on one day and on another day, many hundreds of Mississippi Kites - prestaging or communal roosting.
Technical information
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- 1087 pixels x 624 pixels
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