After a rather uneventful and disappointing start to our visit, a friend and I encountered a swallow-tailed kite at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning. Strafing the treetops at the south end of the refuge, this beautiful raptor made several passes before flying off down-river.
Having once nested along the Mississippi River, from Minnesota to the Gulf Coast, these kites are now primarily summer residents in Florida and along the southeast coasts of North America. Most winter in South America.
Late summer is a period during which many birds wander beyond their usual range and it is certainly possible that the range of many species may expand as our climate warms. Nevertheless, this morning's sighting was a special treat and a reminder to all birders that our expectations are not always met (sometimes, they are exceeded!).
