Swallow-tailed Kite at Luther Marsh

[cabz]

Lots of reports and activity of this beautiful bird long way from home!!!

Dragged my husband out yesterday morning to see it.  There were a few other birders, but probably not the crowd a few days earlier.  Luther is just over an hour ride for us, but these days, any excuse for a road trip.

Bird was in the distance, but my husband got a couple of not great shots, as he did not bring his big lens.  We were there  1/2 hour ish or so.

Good birding, stay safe and healthy!!!!

Forgot to mention, saw a Redheaded woodpecker on the way home.  Somewhere north of Hillsburgh.  Might try to get back there in the next few days to find it.  Think it was in the 5th line???

[Axeman]

Hey whereabouts in Luther Marsh? I live about 45 min. north of LM....thinking I'll drag my family there over the weekend. They'll complain and protest and be suitably unimpressed....good times!

[Axeman]

Thanks for the heads up!

[lovemypt]

seen right across from entrance on east side in those fields, just a bit south of entrance, though I haven't been, Dino  posted pics and may be able to give better directions...look for crowds

[Dinusaur]

Side Road 21&22, just north of Concession Road 7 and close to the corn filed to the east. Sometimes it goes further north and flies over the wheat field to the east. Note that the bird was first reported seen on iNaturalist on July 23rd and subsequently reported on eBird in early August - so it is very likely that it is going to hang around the place a little longer. Here are some photos of the Kite that I took at the location.

[attachment=2:228h4gkz]Photo 1.JPG[/attachment:228h4gkz]
[attachment=1:228h4gkz]Photo 3.JPG[/attachment:228h4gkz]
[attachment=0:228h4gkz]Photo 4.JPG[/attachment:228h4gkz]

[Ally]

Wow! What does he have in his hand? He is also a raptor, right?

[lovemypt]

Yes, Raptor....... same family as  hawk, Falcons,  .....kites

[Dinusaur]

Yes, they are raptors. They catch flying insects and eat them while in flight. One of the most graceful fliers with spectacular aerial maneuverability.  I have a distant photo of it grabbing insect from the top of a corn stalk and also from tall grass.

[cabz]

Great pics Dinusaur!!!!

Yes, look for crowds, as my husband always says when we go looking for a rareity!!!!

Axeman, good luck if you go visit and keep the family entertained!!!

Hope the bird does head south as fall approaches!!!!

[Shortsighted]

Nailed it again, Dinu.
If you weren't the Captain, ... the Cap-i-tan, I would say
you are the carpenter of avian photography, ... nails it
every single time! You build a pictorial construct that tells
a story while chronicling every accidental visitor or rare
bird in the territory. Your body of work is a temple that we
all worship to. Blessed be the Dinu, for he bringeth the rare
and beautiful into our daily lives. Long live the Dinu!
Cut! That's a wrap.

[Ally]

I didn't find it :cry:  :cry:  :cry:

[Dinusaur]

I didn't find it :cry:  :cry:  :cry:

Sorry to hear that. What time were you there? It is usually a daily show after 9 AM; however, often times it disappears for a long time in the afternoon. I have a friend who missed it on Saturday, August 8 when she dropped by the location around 4 PM.

[Ally]

I didn't find it :cry:  :cry:  :cry:

Sorry to hear that. What time were you there? It is usually a daily show after 9 AM; however, often times it disappears for a long time in the afternoon. I have a friend who missed it on Saturday, August 8 when she dropped by the location around 4 PM.

I got there around by 9 AM, I was walking with my friends family and by the time we left at 11:30AM, 3 birders were there and told me they didn't find it in the past hour.

[Napper]

Very Nice!

Similar sightings last year near Flos rd 5, South of Wasaga.

I use back roads near there most weekends while heading home.

p.s. I don't do crowds..