PHOTO IMAGES: 

MISSISSIPPI KITE NESTINGS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

                     SPRING AND SUMMER 2017 

I was privileged to be able to watch and photograph four Mississippi kite nestings in Northern Virginia in the Spring and Summer of 2017.   The nest in Arlington Co. failed.  The nesting pair near Backlick Rd. and Woodland Drive, in Fairfax County, produced at least one chick.

  I watched and photographed the returning nesting pair from 2016, near the Greenspring Park in Fairfax Co., which fledged two chicks, regularly from mid-July until Labor Day. . 

  I also watched and photographed a new nesting location, near Monticello Park in Alexandria, which fledged one chick, from their return in May (when there were as many as six kites flying around the area together), through nest building and incubation, and as the chick grew and fledged. 

 I have posted 46 of these images below. Twenty-three from the Greenspring nesting, followed by twenty-three  from the Alexandria/Monticello nesting.
       I will say, however, that for me, as nice as the nests and chicks were to watch, the real thrill was watching these beautiful and elegant birds fly, dive, and hunt.
                   I'm already looking forward to next year.

                                 THE GREENSPRING NESTING

      Chicks in nest, on July 22nd.

      
                     Fledged chick, Aug. 2nd

Fledged chick, Aug. 6th

          

     Fledgling being fed, note cicada in adult's beak. August 2nd.

Four Images.

          

 

 

Fledged juvenile, Aug. 5th

 

Both fledged juveniles, Aug. 25th.

 

                                Adult kite with cicada

            Adult kite with what appears to be a small bird.

 

              Adult kite with cicada feeding juvenile. August 25th

                                   Three images.

 

 

 

                            Another feeding of both juveniles from Aug. 25.  

                                  Three images 

 

 

          Below is one of my favorite images.

   The juvenile is in a level power flight, with wings back 

     and the Alulas on the front of the wings up. 

      I have never seen a juvenile kite fly like this before.

                                    August 25th.

 

                              This is the same juvenile soaring.

                            Adult with cicada for juvenile.

 

                                   Feeding the juvenile, notice the large

                   green cicada in the adult's beak. August 13th.

                                      Two images. 

 

                                            Perched adult Mississippi Kite.

                                      July 23rd.

 

ALEXANDRIA NESTING

    The images below are from the nesting near Monticello Park 

      in Alexandria.  I was able to watch and photograph these birds

   from soon after they arrived in early May.

            Perched adult male Mississippi kite, May 22nd

                               As above.

        

                         Adult Kite in flight. 

  Notice the very long outer primary feathers and the rufous color    

     on both the upper  and lower surface of the outer wing feathers.

                           May 29th.

        

             Adult female Mississippi kite, June 10th.

                         Adult Mississippi Kite, male, I believe.  June1st.

 

As above

                            Look carefully.

     There are four Mississippi kites perched in this tree. May 24th

                              Sub-adult, second-year, Mississippi kite.
 This bird has the body and wing plumage of an adult, 
    but retains the outer wing feathers and brown banded tail 
                     of a juvenile.  May 24th.

         Detail from a larger image with six kites in the air. May 26th.

       These are both sub-adult, second -year birds. 

   One can clearly see the adult body plumage on the lower bird,

   and the brown, banded tails on both birds.  The upper bird is 

   also undergoing heavy molt of the inner primary wing feathers.

     Detail, as above, of two adult kites flying together. May 26th.
  These are probably the same two birds that mated and nested .

               Adult Mississippi kites mating/copulating, May 26th.

                                   Three images .

            Below, the male wraps his wings around female 
              at conclusion of copulation.

           Adult kite, probably the male, during nest building, May 22.

                       Notice the red eyes.

                Chick, on left , and adult kite, on right, in nest, July 14th

             Mississippi kite chick in nest, July 14th

               Developing, now juvenile kite, in nest July 30th.

             Fledged and perched Juvenile kite. August 13th.

                  Juvenile kite with wings spread, August 13th.

      Adult kite returning to feed juvenile, with prey in beak.

     Image clearly shows the swept back wing posture, and also           the raised Alulas, on the upper edge of the wing.  Aug. 13th

                 Adult returning to nest with cicada for chick, July 16th
                  Notice the long, swept back wings.
   The wings are so long that they extend beyond the tip of
                the tail on perched birds. 

     Adult kite, appears to be the male, spreading its wings on 

         June 4th.  Back lighting shows the deep rufous color in the 

                        outer wing feathers.

          Same bird, now  perched on same branch, five minutes later.  

                    THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.  

       Hoping they all return to nest again in 2018.