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Subject:

Cecil Birds 7/11 (MS. KITE)

From:

Chris Starling

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Sun, 11 Jul 2004 13:32:52 -0400

Greetings,

This morning before I went to work I noticed a lot of bird activity in the
yard.  Birds were singing everywhere!  Of note were Common Yellowthroat,
RE Vireo, and a lone RT Hummer at the feeder. Up the road a little I found
what I think to be an active YB Cuckoo nest.  For two weeks I have noted a
pair of YB Cuckoos visiting the same tree. Yesterday one was "singing" on
territory (attn: parke!).  Also heard there was an Indigo Bunting.

Most remarkably though was a Mississippi Kite(!) that I saw while sitting
at the red light at the intersection of Route 272 and Route 40 in North
East, MD. While at the light I noticed a raptor flying (southerly) towards
me. I initially thought it was a large female Cooper's Hawk. But as it got
closer I realized that the bird was a Kite.  It was low enough that I
could see that it was plainly marked (no stripes anywhere) It had a very
long tail. Most notably though were the relatively short first and second
primaries on the wings.  I never saw the "white-ish" head but I do believe
the bird to be an adult.  It was hell-bent on flying south (migration?)
and I am sure it is somewhere over Talbot County by now!?...

Also of note above the Kite was a lone Least Tern bouncing around along
with the raptor. (this spot is at least a mile from the bay proper.)

Good Birding,
Chris Starling
North East, MD