Have you ever seen a Swallow-tailed Kite? These birds will flock up by the hundreds to roost. In the early mornings they descend upon cow pastures fueling up on insects that are flushed from the grass by grazing cattle. We will also have the opportunity to see Cattle Egrets, Mississippi Kites, Blue Grosbeaks, & Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. Since the kites gather on private property we will be birdwatching from the roadside. The Kites depart their roosts in the mornings gliding through the air catching insects, and as the temperatures rise, so too will the kites riding thermals high into the sky.

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The Kites roost in large flocks making the numbers for the day unpredictable.  Since we are relying on nature to perform, there are no guarantees we will find Swallow-tailed Kites by the hundreds, but we will do our very best to search the areas they typically gather in those numbers. We will meet at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie Admissions Office parking lot at 9am, which is about an Hour & 45 minute drive from Columbia.  Then we will caravan to selected sites near Allendale. When we spot Swallow-tailed Kites, we’ll pull off the road, get out, and observe these magnificent birds.