Flying over our house in Seven Mile this morning was what looked like a
kite, possibly a Mississippi kite. Here are the particulars and someone who
is more of a raptor expert might respond: Cooper's hawk sized, long thin
wings, long thin tail (not forked), relatively dark underneath especially
closer to the tail and rear of the bird. Straight, direct, level, fast
flight with relatively shallow wingbeats. Flying at approximately an
altitude of 150-200ft. (About twice the speed that a great blue heron would
travel at.) The only close thing I can think of in appearance would be a
merlin, but I have never seen a merlin fly in the this way and I don't know
whether the shallow wingbeats reflect more of the former or latter. I've
seen swallow tailed kites and noted that the forked tail is apparent at
almost any reasonable distance. And I've seen white tailed kites and this
one lacked any serious amount of light coloring on the head or chest.
Thanks for the help. Eric