Third time was a charm (after attempt #2 was aborted somewhere around Laurel
on Wednesday due to insufferable traffic - dang highway engineers).  I got
to Sean's street at 9:05am, and the first wave of birds showed up at 10:05.
First on the scene was a subadult MISSISSIPPI, mixing it up with a pair of
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK.  This was all in the cul-de-sac direction.  Then the
Mississippi sailed behind trees to the left, and a kite reappeared where we
thought the Mississippi would show up.  The light colored head was
immediately apparent as it sailed towards us.  But as it came over we
quickly realized it wasn't the Mississippi, but instead was the
SWALLOW-TAILED.  J.B. Churchill was the first one (at least in my vicinity)
to call the bird, and everyone was on it in milliseconds.  We watched it
feed, swoop and sail with grace, while the Red-shouldereds and
Mississippi(s) tussled over the cul-de-sac and all around.  I'm not really
sure how many Mississippis were actually there, as I was trying to get some
quick shots of the Swallow-tailed.  The Swallow-tailed then worked its way
back over the trees beyond the cul-de-sac.  The final sighting was of a
Mississippi flying over the trees behind Sean's house.



In 5 minutes the show was over.



Hung for about an hour longer, and then drove around a little.  I ended up
having 5 or 6 more Mississippi Kite sightings of at least 3 birds.  These
were all seen from Old Elk Neck Rd. between the point where it goes over the
RR tracks (near Rt. 7) and the Maranatha Baptist Church (nr. the
intersection of Old Elk Neck and Jones Chapel Rd.).  There could easily have
been more, but it was hard to keep track of them.  The birds were flying
quite high at this point, and easily lost in the blue sky.  Didn't see the
Swallow-tailed again, but wouldn't have been surprised to see it from this
area too.



Thanks again to Sean for his help and hospitality.  Will be interesting to
see how long the birds stay around.  Cicada numbers are dropping, but maybe
they'll stay to feed on dragonflies.  Does anyone remember how long the
Fauquier Co, VA bird stayed around (in late July/early Aug, 2002)?  I don't
think it was more than 2 weeks.  There was also a Swallow-tailed that stayed
in one area of Pennsylvania a few years ago, but I don't remember how long
it stuck around.  Anyone remember the details on that bird?



Good Birding,

Paul Pisano

Highway Engineer

Arlington, VA