White-Tailed Kite

Gallery: AvianPosted February 1, 2011173 views20 comments

There are usually kites at Arastradero Preserve near Baylands in Palo Alto, but they are very tough to get close to. This is my best so far - a good pose, but still a very large crop and no beautiful red eyes visible.
D300
500mm
1/2000 sec, f/5.6
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
Exp comp: +1/3
ISO: 640
AF mode: AF-C
White balance: AUTO

Comments

20 comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on February 1, 2011 at 1:20 AM

Good image quality Sandy. Interesting pose as he appears to be descending onto something with the wings brushing off speed. I would suggest centering the subject in this circumstance. Saw one of these many years ago when I only had a short lens in my bag, south of San Jose , Calif. somewhere.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Mauro Pasquero on February 1, 2011 at 3:03 AM

Great pose, Sandy ! I agree with Gary about centering in subject, in this circumstance.
Cheers.
Mauro

Registered on January 21, 2010, 650 Posts, 2500 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 1, 2011 at 3:31 AM

Thanks!
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 1, 2011 at 5:44 AM

Love the typical pose Sandy, particularly the dangling feet

cheers
Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 1, 2011 at 7:40 AM

Nice, I love this species. Have only seen it a couple of times here in S. Florida. I like the repost comp. Sharpness looks good.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on February 1, 2011 at 7:52 AM

Sandy,

Great pose. I hope to see one of these in the field some day. I really like the wing spread and braced talons that give this a feeling of action. I would hate to be on the business end of this manuever.

Rick

Registered on March 12, 2010, 105 Posts, 368 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 1, 2011 at 8:03 AM

Sandy

I love the pose of the kite and even though we don't have a view of the red eye I find the pose compelling enough to not miss the eye so much, plus this shows the kite being a kite and how intent it is on something below the frame. I prefer the repost for comp.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Randy Bacon on February 1, 2011 at 8:22 AM

Love it Sandy, I don't miss the eyes at all because everything else about this bird tells the story - very well done. I do like the centered comp much better.

Registered on November 24, 2008, 56 Posts, 492 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 1, 2011 at 8:29 AM

great looking pose, and a nice re-comp, Sandy. too bad about no eye contact, but it does put the bird's focus on it's presumed prey.

BTW, the species is now known as White-tailed Kite (since its split from Eurasian/Australian species with which it was once considered conspecific).

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on February 1, 2011 at 9:05 AM

Really love the head on shot! Looks like the kite is coming in with full flaps down. Wonderful capture!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on February 1, 2011 at 9:13 AM

I too like the centered comp better. Nice view of this bird I have only seen from a great distance. Love the spread wings and splayed tail. Hope you can get even closer. Hope I can someday too.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 1, 2011 at 9:14 AM

With this nice, hovering pose I don't think the lack of eye contact hurts much. Nice image Sandy, I like the repost better

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 1, 2011 at 9:15 AM

Awesome posethough I'd get rid of the canvas on the top and left and move it to the bottom for a better composition.

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Karen Summers on February 1, 2011 at 3:27 PM

A good image love the spread wings I think I would have had a bit more room for him to look into maybe positioned him a little higher

Registered on December 3, 2009, 83 Posts, 818 Comments

Comment posted by Monica Siri on February 1, 2011 at 4:02 PM

Sandy,
the repost works very well for me. I like the wings position, the splayed tail and the talons.

Registered on September 20, 2009, 132 Posts, 3764 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 1, 2011 at 7:12 PM

I like your repost best also Sandy. Neat bird and pose. Nice and sharp.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on February 1, 2011 at 11:03 PM

Hi Sandy

Love the pose on this beautiful bird. The repost is sharp and even better

Albert Darmo. Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 2, 2011 at 2:09 AM

I like the repost too!!! Sweet One Sandy!!!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on February 2, 2011 at 8:17 AM

I like the flight pose with talons extended Sally, great exposure of the whites..
Prefer the repost here, well done!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 2, 2011 at 8:18 PM

Love the pose, but agree with Luke's comment. My preference would be to place the bird higher still in the repost.

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments