Have any of you bird watcher’s seen what is called a Magnificent Frigate? Isaw something in N Charleston yesterday doing circles like a hawk that resembled a frigate bird but its tail was spread out. Was too high to get a good look but it was big.
1720 KW 110 Johnson
16’ Bonito 65 Johnson
Sounds like a swallowtail kite. They have a profile much like a frigate.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
X2 on the swallowtail kite
17’ High Tide CC
60 Yamaha
This bird was as big as a buzzard, all black except for around the breast area and had a long bill that looked like it turned down on the end. Was really a pretty looking bird from what we could see. Definitely not a swallow tailed kite.
1720 KW 110 Johnson
16’ Bonito 65 Johnson
I haven’t seen them this year, but, a few years back we were coming back in the harbor and the were several dozen frigate birds on the water near Castle Pinkney. they got up and flew off across our bow and we got a good look. Had never seen them here before that. Coincidentally, the same day we ran throught thousands of rays near Ft. Sumter. That was weird… and cool.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a frigate bird around here. Could be. A swallowtail kite is as big as a buzzard though.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
I’m sure they were frigates. I’ve seen swallow tail kites several times in the Santee delta area and south of Charleston around the Caw Caw preserve. The frigates are much larger. And, like their ‘boobie’ cousins, they are awkward when taking flight from the water. It takes them a long time to get those long wings going with the feet running no the water. If you see them, you’ll know you’re looking at something different.
That having been said, the description in the original question does sound like it could be a swallow tail kite. If the split tail was really apparent, it had to be a swallow tail kite or frigate. If the split was less pronounced, it may have been a Missippi kite.
Might also have been an immature bald eagle. They are all over the upper Cooper.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
If you saw frigate birds sitting on the water that in my experience is very unusual. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one that wasn’t in the air or rarely roosting but most of the ones I’ve seen were in Florida. They are truly masters of the air currents and I admire anybody or thing that are really masters at something.
I plan on living forever, so far so good
Egret 167, Etec 130
Wooden Driftboat
Jon Boat & 2 Canoes
I’ve seen a lot of frigate birds, but never seen one around here. Not saying there can’t be 
Frigate bird…
Swallow Tail Kite
Very similar profiles and coloring in flight.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
The top photo is what we saw.
1720 KW 110 Johnson
16’ Bonito 65 Johnson