Date: 5/13/26 8:24 pm From: 'SUE RICCIARDI' via Maryland & DC Birding <mdbirding...> Subject: [MDBirding] Fort Smallwood Park (13 May 2026) 84 Raptors Mississippi Kite!
Fort Smallwood Park Pasadena, Maryland, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: May 13, 2026
Species
Day's Count
Month Total
Season Total
Black Vulture
1
16
134
Turkey Vulture
75
500
8832
Osprey
1
12
234
Bald Eagle
0
21
110
Northern Harrier
0
2
49
Sharp-shinned Hawk
0
56
647
Cooper's Hawk
1
23
192
American Goshawk
0
0
0
Red-shouldered Hawk
0
0
256
Broad-winged Hawk
4
23
106
Red-tailed Hawk
1
8
91
Rough-legged Hawk
0
0
0
Golden Eagle
0
0
0
American Kestrel
0
1
97
Merlin
0
2
33
Peregrine Falcon
0
0
0
Unknown Accipitrine
0
1
10
Unknown Buteo
0
1
9
Unknown Falcon
0
0
7
Unknown Eagle
0
0
0
Unknown Raptor
0
2
16
Mississippi Kite
1
1
1
Swallow-tailed Kite
0
0
2
Total:
84
669
10826
Observation start time:
9:00 am Daylight Time
Observation end time:
4:00 pm
Total observation time:
7 hours
Official Counter
Chris Reed
Observers:
Cristians Rivas, Fred Shaffer, Hal Wierenga, John Hoffman, Steve Steimel, Sue Ricciardi
Visitors: Elizabeth
Weather: Partly cloudy becoming mostly cloudy as storms approached; 65-74 degrees; good visibility becoming fair in the last two hours; winds strong and southwesterly 12-18 mph gusting to 24 mph
Raptor Observations: The strong winds brought 75 Turkey Vultures, but also our first Mississippi Kite of the season! A molting first-year subadult, it first appeared high overhead with two Turkey Vultures at the north edge of the pond, but while the vultures continued north, the kite was in no rush to leave and slowly headed south. It then made a long steep stoop downward as if it had an eye on a prey item, but that wasn't evident. After stooping it continued a low slow half-circuit of the pond, then doubled back and finally left to the northwest. It was in view for 18 minutes! Two photos may be found here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S338555632
Site Description Fort Smallwood Park is located on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Patapsco River, 11 miles south of Baltimore, MD. Best winds are from the southwest.
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