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.
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.
Focus Magazine & Seabrook 100k Photography Challenge.
Category: Landscape
"Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it."
~Winston Churchill
Explore - Frogmore
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.
Image taken in Spain.
Many thanks to everyone that views and comments on my images - very much appreciated.
Wikipedia: The black kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. It is thought to be the world's most abundant species of Accipitridae, although some populations have experienced dramatic declines or fluctuations. Current global population estimates run up to 6 million individuals.
Unlike others of the group, black kites are opportunistic hunters and are more likely to scavenge. They spend much time soaring and gliding in thermals in search of food. Their angled wing and distinctive forked tail make them easy to identify. They are also vociferous with a shrill whinnying call.
The black kite is widely distributed through the temperate and tropical parts of Eurasia and parts of Australasia and Oceania, with the temperate region populations tending to be migratory. Several subspecies are recognized and formerly had their own English names. The European populations are small, but the South Asian population is very large.
Conservation status: Least Concern
(Rostrhamus sociabilis) The snail kite is a locally endangered species in the Florida Everglades, with a population of less than 400 breeding pairs. Research has demonstrated that water-level control in the Everglades is depleting the population of apple snails which is their main diet. Their slender curved bill is ideal for winkling apple snails out of their shells!
In July 1990, 13 red kites were flown from Spain to the UK.
Thirty years on, nearly 2,000 breeding pairs of Kites are estimated and are present in nearly every English county, in what has been hailed as one of the most successful reintroduction projects in the world. Gives hope to other threatened species.
Wikipedia: The black kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. It is thought to be the world's most abundant species of Accipitridae, although some populations have experienced dramatic declines or fluctuations. Current global population estimates run up to 6 million individuals.
Unlike others of the group, black kites are opportunistic hunters and are more likely to scavenge. They spend much time soaring and gliding in thermals in search of food. Their angled wing and distinctive forked tail make them easy to identify. They are also vociferous with a shrill whinnying call.
The black kite is widely distributed through the temperate and tropical parts of Eurasia and parts of Australasia and Oceania, with the temperate region populations tending to be migratory. Several subspecies are recognized and formerly had their own English names. The European populations are small, but the South Asian population is very large.
Conservation status: Least Concern
I looked up and it was there, soaring high over the tall trees at Corkscrew Swamp, and then it was gone. Actually, there were two of them, and I got a second quick look to snap this picture.
It was particularly exciting, an unexpected chance, because it was a life bird, and according to the park rangers, the first Swallow-tailed Kite observed this late winter/early Spring season.
Life bird photograph #223
During this lockdown I have been re-visiting and re-processing some of my older images.
This is from my first trip to Gigrin in Mid-Wales .
RKO_2266. Black kite (zwarte wouw), Milvus migrans?
Image taken while visiting Kalizo and its breeding southern carmine-beefeaters colony.
Copyright: Robert Kok. All rights reserved!
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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.
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.
It was great to see the pair of Black-shouldered Kites back in the Sneydes Rd area this morning. I observed them collecting nesting material again.
I will be back later to catch up - got to run for now.
Milvus Milvus
Harewood
Red Kites were released on the Harewood estate in 1999 as part of a UK conservation initiative. Harewood Estate was originally part of a partnership involving the RSPB, English Nature, & Yorkshire Water PLC. The Red Kite now has a self-sustaining population, whose numbers are gradually increasing yearly.
A species which was persecuted to extinction in England and Scotland by the end of the 1800s. At the last count there were over 300 Red Kites in the area around Harewood and Yorkshire.
Black Kite, Milvus migrans
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We call them "Black", but in the soft early monring light the colours are quite distinctive.
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.
Located on the western coast of Sicily, the Stagnone di Marsala Nature Reserve is a true natural jewel.
This enchanting place, characterized by shallow waters and constant winds, has become the reference point for kitesurfing lovers.
Thanks to its ideal conditions, the constant winds, the shallow waters and the vast lagoon offer a perfect space to practice this sport.
The lagoon is particularly appreciated for its safety and for the possibility of practicing kitesurfing even with low intensity winds and attracts a large number of kiter enthusiasts from all over Europe.
The Marsala Salt Pans are an unmissable attraction of the reserve. These ancient salt pans, still in use today, create a breathtaking landscape, especially at sunset when the sun dyes the water with pink and golden hues.
The Island of Mozia is a small jewel located within the Stagnone lagoon. This ancient Phoenician island offers an interesting cultural excursion among archaeological ruins and suggestive panoramas.
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Situata sulla costa occidentale della Sicilia, la Riserva Naturale dello Stagnone di Marsala è un vero gioiello naturale.
Questo luogo incantevole, caratterizzato da acque poco profonde e venti costanti, è diventato il punto di riferimento per gli amanti del kitesurf.
Grazie alle sue condizioni ideali, I venti costanti, le acque poco profonde e la vasta laguna offrono uno spazio perfetto per praticare questo sport.
La laguna è particolarmente apprezzata per la sua sicurezza e per la possibilità di praticare kitesurf anche con venti di bassa intensità e richiama un gran numero di appassionati kiter da tutta Europa.
Le Saline di Marsala sono un’attrazione imperdibile della riserva. Queste antiche saline, ancora in uso oggi, creano un paesaggio mozzafiato, soprattutto al tramonto quando il sole tinge l'acqua di sfumature rosate e dorate.
L'Isola di Mozia è un piccolo gioiello situato all'interno della laguna dello Stagnone. Questa antica isola fenicia offre un'interessante escursione culturale tra rovine archeologiche e panorami suggestivi.
First summer day 2018, a lot of wind and very cold
But very good kite surf weather ...
Thanks for your visit and comments, I appreciate that very much!
Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission.© all rights reserved.
Regards, Bram (BraCom)
Snail Kite ~ (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
A Snail Kite in flight with nesting material.
Thanks for visiting!
Red Kite - Milvus Milvus
Double click
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.
Historically, snail kites were found from the Everglades to just southeast of Tallahassee, but wetland drainage and development eliminated or altered its shallow freshwater foraging habitat
Generally, the species is somewhat nomadic, moving from wetland to wetland in search of snails, but they are regularly seen in the marshes associated with lakes Kissimmee, Okeechobee and Tohopekaliga, at the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, water conservation areas (Everglades), and even along stretches of the Tamiami Trail.
The Florida snail kite is aptly named - it feeds almost exclusively on apple snails and, in the United States, is found only in Florida.
The species was listed as endangered in 1967. Today, the population is considered to be stable, but extremely vulnerable to the stresses of habitat loss, prolonged droughts and anything that affects the availability of apple snails, its primary food.
Snail kites breed from December to August and lay an average of three eggs in bulky nests built in a variety of wetland trees, shrubs and emergent vegetation. During the nesting season, the birds are usually found singly or in pairs; in winter, they often roost together in communal groups.
Lucky observers will witness the snail kite in action, as it searches for its prey by flying low over shallow freshwater marshes scattered with shrubs and trees. When it spots a snail, it swoops down, extends its legs into the water and briefly hovers while it grasps the snail with its talons. While still in flight or after landing on a nearby perch, the kite uses its thin, hooked bill to pull the snail from its shell.
I found this Male perched in a Sable Palm along the shore of Lake Kissimmee, at Joe Overstreet Landing.