This afternoon I was travelling my favorite speed-bump route on Southampton Dr.
(at Clydesdale Rd.), in the King's Park development in Burke when I saw a
Mississippi Kite overhead, west of my location. I pulled over and watched (with
binocs) for about 5 minutes. The bird soared nicely and made its way west to
east, when it suddenly dove straight down and did not come back up. Based on
the distance I would estimate it went down at or near Lake Accotink Park,
perhaps near King's Glen Elementary School. This was not much more than a mile
or so (as the Kite flies) from where I spotted one about a week ago off of
Hillside Rd.
On a less successful note, I did not see or hear the Virginia Rails in Huntley
Meadows last evening.
Dave Boltz
Alexandria/Fairfax Co.
