Kites & Kite Flying
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Red Kite - Milvus Milvus
Persecuted to near extinction in the UK, the Red Kite has made a tremendous comeback thanks to reintroduction programmes and legal protection. Seeing one of these magnificent birds soaring high in the sky is a true delight.
Once a very rare bird that could only be found in Central Wales, the Red Kite has been successfully reintroduced to several areas of the UK and can now be seen in Wales, Yorkshire, the East Midlands and the Chilterns. A large, graceful bird of prey, it soars over woods and open areas, its distinctive shape and 'mewing' calls making it easy to identify. Red Kites were routinely persecuted as hunters of game and domestic animals, but they are in fact scavengers, eating carrion and scraps, and taking only small prey like rabbits.
Red kites were common in Shakespearean London, where they fed on scraps in the streets and collected rags or stole hung-out washing for nest-building materials. Shakespeare even referred to this habit in 'The Winter's Tale' when he wrote: 'When the kite builds, look to lesser linen'. The nest of a red kite is an untidy affair, often built on top of an old Crow's nest. It is lined with sheep's wool and decorated with all kinds of objects like paper, plastic and cloth.
Thank to all who take the time to view, Comment or Fav, It is Always Appreciated.
In terms of conservation, threats to red kites have been via direct poisoning and indirect poisoning from pesticides resulting in almost extinction in the 1900's.. Woodland clearance and other changes in agricultural practices created a reduction in food resources. Other threats included electrocution, hunting and trapping and egg-collection. This persecution resulted in a rapidly declining population with extinction happening in Ireland. In 2006, the first Red Kite was seen in London after 150 years and they are now protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Whilst numbers have increased, they remain on the amber list.
Nikon D500, Sigma 60-600mm Sports lens, 420mm, f/6, 1/3200, ISO 400. Just fledged raptor. View large.
Elanio Común, Black-winged Kite, Elanus caeruleus.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Northern Cape
South Africa
A small piece of a kite string formed to a knot which is approx. 2 ¼” x 1.5” in this macro.
[Dedicated to CRA (ILYWAMHASAM)]
😄 Happy Macro Monday 😄
Taken 16.10.2020 and uploaded for the group Macro Mondays #String
ƒ/2.8
4.5 mm
1/160 Sec
ISO 400
Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus axillaris
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Another day, another storm.
Just before the rain set in, a little break of sunlight set the Kite against the approaching storm clouds.
(Milvus milvus) I was really thrilled to be able to photograph this wild leucistic red kite on a recent trip to Mid Wales. Apparently it is a youngster and started appearing at the farm around December time. There are only about 10 of these birds known in the world and three of them have been seen at Gigrin Farm! Leucism is an animal condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation resulting in white, pale, or patchy coloration of feathers, skin or hair. It is not albinism as they lack the red/pink eyes of a true albino.
Snail kites inhabit marsh habitats in both the Everglades of south Florida and shorelines of lakes in central Florida. They frequently can be seen slowly flying along the shorelines seeking their primary food item, the apple snail. At other times, you may see a kite perched on a clump of cattail or in a willow tree. During droughts, kites may disperse from their traditional range in the Everglades and larger lakes from Lake Okeechobee north to Lake Tohopekaliga and show up at smaller lakes and marshes throughout south and central Florida. Snail kites nest during February to August in Florida. During the nonbreeding season, kites may form large communal roosts in both cattail and willow stands where they can be seen flying into the site 1-2 hours before sunset.
It is along the margins of Lakes Okeechobee, Kissimmee and Tohopekaliga where most boaters or anglers may see a snail kite and where kites are most vulnerable to human disturbance.
Found this male in Lake Kissimmee at Joe Overstreet Landing, Osceola County, Florida.
Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus axillaris
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A few weeks back I put up some shots from a nesting pair. They had set up a nest in the top of a dead tree, in the open. Most unusual.
A week or so later after some large storms, rain and wind, we checked and the nest was no longer in use. The adults were still around, but not attending the nest.
Conclusion: They lost the clutch.
Wrong! This morning we found them working with three very active young.
Determanation is built into Black-shouldered Kite dna.
A brahminy kite (haliastur indus) flying across an angry sky. Photographed on Hat Yao Noi, Phang Nga, Thailand.
When you need a break, you just park your kite and find a place to relax, grab something to drink and maybe a sandwich or two.
Waddell Beach, just south of Half Moon Bay, California.
A great place for kite-boarders, wind surfers and for capturing photons reflected off them.
Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country. Anais Nin
Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus axillaris
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One of six young that were out in the paddocks together.
Three were from a clutch we'd been following for awhile, the other three had turned up with their Male overseer, but unsure where they might have nested.
The tail raising is an important visual cue of territory ownership
More pics and story on the blog.
Sicily - Macari
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Snail Kite
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All images full frame unless the filename reflects "Crop"
Swallow-tailed Kite ~ Elanoides forficatus
Out on a hike photographing wildflowers with my macro lens and this happened overhead...I took the shot with the 100mm macro so it's cropped in a lot!