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Swallow-Tailed Kites

    RARA AVIS

    This Week’s Bird Sightings

    By

    Confirmed bird sightings on the Outer Cape in the week preceding the Independent’s deadline on Tuesday, June 3 included the following, based on a report prepared by Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

    Sightings at Race Point in Provincetown included up to 3 Little Gulls, 2 Pacific Loons, a Royal Tern, a Caspian Tern, 3 Arctic Terns, 4 Parasitic Jaegers, and 3 Common Murres. There was also a Leach’s Storm-Petrel off Provincetown.

    There were up to 2 Chuck-Will’s-Widows and a Common Nighthawk in Eastham.

    Swallow-Tailed Kites migrate to South America in August and September, then normally return to the American Southeast, and especially to Florida, which has the highest concentration of breeding Swallow-Tailed Kites anywhere in the U.S., according to the National Park Service. Dragonflies are one of their favorite foods, but they will also prey on cicadas and we have plenty of those this year. (Photo by Federico Acevedo/NPS)

    And since there aren’t many reports from our towns this week, here is the up-Cape bird news that excited Mark Faherty over at the Audubon Sanctuary most: “an incredible five Swallow-Tailed Kites continue to be seen near Santuit Pond in Mashpee with continuing sightings of birds carrying nesting material.”

    If you have questions about these sightings or want to report a sighting, call the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-349-2615 or send an email to [email protected].

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