Red Kite on the prowl for roadkill

[Gottshotz]

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This fantastic Red Kite turned up every day for a week at precisely 11.10 am over a nearby motorway roundabout, presumably in the hope of getting a bit of roadkill before the local Magpies spotted it. I spent a couple of mornings dodging the traffic myself trying to get a clear shot. Despite many attempts I couldn't get one with decent plumage detail, so I post edited it in a slightly more edgy "contrasty" way rather than dump the shot and this is the result. D750 with nikon 80-400mm plus 1.4tc @550mm f8 ISO 560, 1/4000 Sec., handheld.

 

[Callie]

A beauty, David!

 

[Icarus]

Gorgeous. Lucky you weren't the roadkill he was looking for.

 

[Gottshotz]

A beauty, David!

Thanks Calling --- I am always staggered that a bird of this size can survive in our agricultural countryside on scavenged remains alone !

 

[Gottshotz]

Gorgeous. Lucky you weren't the roadkill he was looking for.

Funny you should say that --- the same thought occurred to me crossing the highway to get better pics !

 

[ssheipel]

Stunning!

 

[Gottshotz]

Stunning!

Thanks Steven, it's a beautiful bird --- so streamlined !

 

[gordon_g]

Very nicely done for handheld !

 

[Cristobal]

Stunning photo and beautiful bird of prey!

 

[ssheipel]

Thanks Steven, it's a beautiful bird --- so streamlined !

And you captured him so very very well!

 

[Gottshotz]

Very nicely done for handheld !

Thanks Gordon, mind you there were plenty of dud shots as well !

 

[Gottshotz]

Stunning photo and beautiful bird of prey!

Thanks Cristobal, I was lucky to catch the light illuminating it's terrific colouration.

 

[Venkatesh VT]

Superb shot David

 

[Kathy G]

Excellent capture David

 

[Yezdi]

Awesome shot David...

 

[Indrajeet Singh]

Fabulous shot David.

 

[Gottshotz]

Superb shot David

Thanks Venkatesh, I like the Peregrine Falcon shot in your avatar .

 

[Gottshotz]

Excellent capture David

Thanks Kathy, using the motorway roundabout as a potential food source just illustrates how adaptable these big scavengers are !

 

[Gottshotz]

Awesome shot David...

Thanks Yezdi --- isn't it great when you discover a target animal's pattern of behaviour, which gives you a better chance for some super shots.

 

[Gottshotz]

Fabulous shot David.

Thanks Indrajeet, I remember seeing plenty of Black kites when in Rajasthan, but don't recall spotting these Red ones -- are they less common in India ?

 

[Tadzio]

Excellent image Dave

 

[Gottshotz]

Excellent image Dave

Thanks Tadzio