Battle of the Best Yard Birds

[amazona]

Currently I'm being visited by Swallow-Tailed Kites. Can your back yard beat that?

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[amazona]

1. Come on, Ya'll!

You're going to let me beat you that easy?

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[blindpig]

2. that's tough

I'll be hard pressed to touch that with a good accidental. Did have a pair of Broadwinged Hawks last evening.

Missed you over at the Cat Wars. Don't blame you for missing it one bit. I've had more fun with hemorrhoids but can't just let it go

[livetohike]

3. Can't beat you

Swallow-Tailed Kites are beautiful. But I have a couple of these guys every day. White Tailed Kites. They hunt in the open space behind my yard. I guess that counts. Other than that,just the usual towhees and finches.

[amazona]

4. saw some Mississippi Kites today

Off in the distance though. But if I can see 'em from my yard, they count on my yard list.

Absolutely, your White Tails count, what great birds!

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Jesus Saves]

5. I've never seen STKs

Never been in an area where they live.

What do they fly like? Other kites? I guess the only Kites I've seen are Black Shouldereds in California and Black Kites in Africa.

[amazona]

6. more like Mississippi Kites -- do you know them?

In fact Swallow-Tailed Kites and Mississippi Kites will circle in the same tornado or whatever you want to call it -- at least they do in my area. I think both species are going after dragonflies or other large insects when they do this. They are catching in the air. When migrating, they kettle like Broadwings or the rest to rise up and get the thermals.

Seems like the Black Shouldered/White-Tailed types I've seen go up and "kite" and then stoop to catch stuff, at least when I've seen them. The Black Kites I saw in Kenya seemed ready for anything, from stooping to trash-picking, not sure how I would compare their flight to STKI.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Jesus Saves]

8. Never seen a MK

but the STKs seem real sleek - like they'd be fast and dashing. But then I guess their prey species don't require a lot of speed. WTKs are not fast, although they are elegant to watch hunt. They'll hover and then slowly kite down on their prey - but real slow - just like you said.

Black Kites, as you know, are probably like the cockroaches of the Kite world. If there was a nuclear war - out of all the Kites, it'd be the Black Kites and the Red Kites that would survive. They are survivors.

[mopinko]

7. yeah! i got a peregrin!!

saw it for the third time today, right out the window above my monitor here. my daughter saw it a week or so ago. yippie!!!!!!!

[amazona]

9. uh oh!

New dog in the hunt -- the Peregrine might be the Best Yard Bird.

Congratulations.

Who else?

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[livetohike]

10. Roadrunner!

Came into the yard yesterday afternoon. I haven't seen him in months, but he showed up today. This is not a pic I took.

[amazona]

11. nice one!

Not much chance of a Roadrunner where I live, although I think they're on the state of Louisiana bird list from occurrences in the north and west.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[livetohike]

12. But there are so many interesting birds in LA!

I have never seen a Painted Bunting :-(.

[amazona]

13. they're out here

Other people around here get them in their yards. They've avoided my yard though. I get their friends Blue Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting with no problem.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[XemaSab]

14. Evening Grosbeak

is my best yard bird so far where I live now, but other places I've had peregrine falcon and white-throated sparrow (not so easy in California!).

STK's hard to beat, though.