Swallow-tailed Kite in Lamar (Prowers Co) CO 11Aug2017

[Janeal Thompson]

After driving the streets of Lamar for sometime, I have been unable to find the Swallow-tailed Kite.  There was an extraordinarily large kettle of Mississippi Kites flying over Willow Creek Park at 1:30 p.m., I am guesstimating close to 100 or more, high in the air and slowly moving south but I didn't see the large fork-tailed kite among them.  On the west side of town where the kite was found yesterday, there were a few Mississippi Kites roosting in trees--count of 23. 

We have low clouds today and are expecting more rain.  Whatever the kites are gleaning is flying high (dragonflies(?)).  The hailstorm, yesterday, did a lot of damage to houses, yards, crops and birds, especially doves. 

I was finally able to download Bryant Will's photos of the Swallow-tailed taken when he first saw the bird.  Unfortunately, they were in my "spam" file and I didn't see them until this morning.  My apologies to Bryant.

Janeal Thompson

Lamar, CO

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