Composite List
Walter L. Meserve Jr. (Skiptech@compuserve.com)
Tue, 20 Apr 1999 09:37:51 -0400
Message text written by INTERNET:mdosprey@ARI.Net
>4/17 Mississippi Kite (Is this an omen?) Blom and Hafner
Riverside, Harford County<
Okay.. I've only told a few people about this, 'cause I didn't want to be
called crazy.. but...here goes...
Saturday, April 17, 1999, 8:00AMish,
out over the back field of my house in Fallston MD(10 mile east of
Riverside as the crow flies-or kite as the case may be.)
low enough that I didn't even lift my binos, flying easterly
I never saw its head, it was flying away from me when I spotted it, and I
only saw it's underside. I was being distracted by yard bird #104, DC
Cormorants, when I saw this bird and had to do a double take.
falcon like bird
smooth light gray underparts,no speckling or stripes or bands or whatever.
wings may have had some shading on them, due to sunlight or actual
coloration, I don't know.
tail was dark and notched.
At first, I just kind of went "Huh..." when I saw it, and went about my
business because I figured it'd just be one of those hawks that'd I go
"Duh.." with, once I found it in the book. Instead I found myself going
"Nah... couldn't be, could it?"
Rick hasn't posted the details of his bird, but sounds like he had a much
better look at one than me. ~If~ my bird were a kite, it would have been
an adult. I'm curious as to what Rick has to say, because I'm wondering if
it could be the same one. Trust me, I was flipping out when I read his
report.
I checked the MD list and the earliest reported sighting is May 8, and
the Guide to Birdfinding in New Jersey says "most" sightings in Cape May
are late May, early June, but doesn't say when the earliest sightings are.
This information has me hedging, although I'm hoping it ~is~ an omen of an
irruption of some sort, because I'd feel much more validated.<GGG>
Barb Meserve
skiptech@compuserve.com