Bird Watching: Daily Pictures Volume # 302, 1 by Grasmussen

Grasmussen wrote:
When the morning temperature begins to create thermal up drafts, the Swainson's form groups of birds slowly spiralling up. A group of spiralling hawks is called a "kettle." There was a "kettle" of 40 to 50 birds circling above me, when I took these pictures.

The second astounding thing is the Hawks are leisurely feeding, as they increase their altitude. Large flying ants are swarming during the migration. The hawks catch the flying ants in their talons, and then pass the ant to their mouth. In this picture the bird is take the ant out of it's talons! I had to see it to believe it! But i witnessed it hundreds of times while taking these pictures.