Date: 8/20/25 4:40 pm From: Roy Adolphson <roydjoy47...> Subject: [ia-bird] Swallow-tailed Kite in Warren County
Thanks to Ann Johnson's alert last night, I decided to go to Lake Aquabi today for the first time in about 50 years. If you saw the eBird listings today, you know that many folks got to see the Swallow-tailed Kite this morning at the Annett Nature Center across the road just east of the state park. I arrived around 2:30 p.m. and did not see it initially. I was told by the friendly staff at the nature center that it would soar around for a while, then retreat to the west by the lake. I drove a short distance to the state park campgrounds and boat ramp on the west side of the road to see if it was in any of the trees. Nope. When I came back to the nature center parking lot, I was fortunate to see another birder who had just spotted the kite soaring high up among the cumulus clouds to the west of the road. There were also a few Turkey Vultures in the area, but the kite was unmistakable with its long forked tail and black-and-white wings. Soon a group of college-aged (?) kids pulled in, and I was able to tell them what to look for. About ten minutes later they had a sighting, still at some distance west of the road.
