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Subject:

Extralimital: Mississippi Kites: West Springfield/ Kings Park

From:

Donald Sweig

Reply-To:

Donald Sweig

Date:

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:00:38 -0400

FYI: From Va-Bird:

Drove over to Kings Park in West Springfield (Fairfax County) late this
afternoon to look for Mississippi Kites, and found three birds. Almost as
soon  as I arrived  an adult bird, with some molt and regrowth in both
wings, flew out of the large leafy trees behind the houses, caught  a large
flying insect, flew around a bit eating it, and then then flew back into the
same trees.  A bit later I heard a kite call, and this same adult flew up
and perched on the top of a nearby tall leafy tree, where it (or another
kite)  had perched many times last year.  I watched it for 10-15 minutes in
my scope.  A bit later a different adult, with no molt in either wing, flew
out of the trees, quickly caught an insect and flew directly back into the
trees, as if it were feeding a juvenile.  Later, I saw both these adults
flying, soaring, and eating on the wing together. The third bird, which I
saw both flying and perched on the bare snag across the street, was  clearly
a sub-adult bird. It was mostly grey ,as the adults, but retained brown,
striped tail feathers, and some apparent brown and white spotting on the
body. It showed significant molt and little regrowth in both wings, both
flying and perched.  I had a good look at this bird in my scope, from two
different angles, while it was perched. So, there are at least three birds
there, and possibly a fourth, if a juvenile can be located later. I had a
definite juvenile there, in the same trees, two years ago, but not last
year.  We should have about a month to see what develops with these birds.

Donald Sweig
Falls Church, Va.