Snail kite

Gallery: AvianPosted March 20, 2011173 views26 comments

Here is another female snail kite from yesturday morning. Very early morning light. I like the slight head turn in this shot and the nice light. Not as much fine detail in this shot as it is a bit of a crop. Please view larger image for best detail. Thanks

Canon 1DM4
500mm f/4 + 1.4x TC
ISO 1000
1/1600s
f/6.3
Manual exp.
Hand held from my boat
63% of Full frame
Not baited or called in

Comments

26 comments

Comment posted by Thomas Miller on March 20, 2011 at 6:00 PM

I love how you captured it carrying the snail in its beak, great shot!

Registered on March 10, 2011, 56 Posts, 56 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 20, 2011 at 6:05 PM

Excellent! I knew you'd have a snail shot ...

Nice light here, perfectly-fine detail and a great eye.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Graham Brown on March 20, 2011 at 6:19 PM

You've certainly got some nice flight shots now Ron. Nice and sharp considering it was handheld from a boat. Detail looks fine to me. Wish we had some blue skies and good light. I bet you can see the benefit in being able to use much higher iso's with this camera without visible graining. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Walters on March 20, 2011 at 6:19 PM

Great light and I love the snail. That red eye really stands out!

Registered on October 30, 2005, 405 Posts, 3693 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 20, 2011 at 6:54 PM

Razor sharp and the snail in the bill is icing on the cake. Is this similar to your Osprey series were you are trying for the "ultimate" shot?

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 20, 2011 at 7:11 PM

Another very well done flight shot. Light is excellent; detail looks fine to me as well.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by richard remington on March 20, 2011 at 7:33 PM

Ron,

Wow!!! Great shot with the snail in its mouth and those eyes......I am amzed at the sharpness of the picture from a boat with a handheld 500 mm lens. I could not produce that standing on solid ground let alone in a boat. Great work!

Rick

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

Comment posted by Rick Cloran on March 20, 2011 at 7:46 PM

Wish I had one near as good Ron

Registered on April 6, 2004, 119 Posts, 1989 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 20, 2011 at 8:05 PM

Luke, yep, I am looking for the ultimate shot. Maybe I will get it maybe not, but it sure is fun trying. These birds "wheel" around to drop down and grab snails much like northern harriers do to catch their prey. That dynamic type shot is what I really want. Also a shot of a bird lifting a snail out of the water with all the water flow would be great too. The tough thing with these birds is getting good light on their faces as they are always looking down it seems. Again, much like harriers. These are great birds and I plan on spending considerable time with them. It will be fun.

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

Comment posted by May Haga on March 20, 2011 at 8:22 PM

Lovely flight shot Ron. Perfect to capture it with a snail in its mouth.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on March 20, 2011 at 8:38 PM

A great shot Ron, the snail in the beak is a hugh bonus.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on March 20, 2011 at 9:22 PM

Ron: Very nice image. Great light on the bird and the angle flying toward you is great. Larger version does suffer just a bit from the large crop, but such a small issue with a fine image. Very nice.

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 20, 2011 at 10:00 PM

Another beauty, and with a snail too.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on March 20, 2011 at 10:07 PM

You must be getting tired of so much unadulterated praise, Ron. However, that's all I've got too. Beautiful and interesting shot.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on March 20, 2011 at 10:59 PM

Top notch flight image, Ron. There is a ton of detail on the feathers in the larger version, despite the crop. Getting one with a snail is a bonus. Great light as you mentioned, and the eye is terrific. I might try cropping it tighter for more impact.

Looking fwd to seeing your other images of this subject.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 20, 2011 at 11:23 PM

Ron, I think we're going to enjoy your quest for the ultimate Snail Kite shots. Sweet light here, and the snail in the bill is really cool. detail looks quite good to me.

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

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on March 20, 2011 at 11:34 PM

Nice flight shot, Ron. Beautiful light and I like the glow of the snail.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 21, 2011 at 3:43 AM

Anotrher beauty Ron; that's a seriously big snail.

cheers
Rob

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

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on March 21, 2011 at 8:00 AM

Excellent detail & nature story taken in great light. Very difficult to get right.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Diller on March 21, 2011 at 5:01 PM

NIce score Ron. I seem to have many images that look like yours!

Nice flight shot, thanks for all the pointer as well!

Registered on October 2, 2009, 69 Posts, 434 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on March 21, 2011 at 9:17 PM

Ron, the light here is simply gorgeous. I like the wing position and that nice look at that colorful eye and curling talons. Getting one with a snail is perfect for the species. From what you said about their hunting technique in your second comment I see what you mean when you compare them to harriers. Very well done.

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

Comment posted by David Haynes on March 22, 2011 at 12:55 AM

Ron,
This has plenty of fine detail for me. Love that he's carrying a snail in the tack sharp beak. The catchlight in the eye is unreal. Very cool image Ron.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on March 22, 2011 at 12:53 PM

Wow. What more can one say. Perfect light, flight position, snail in mouth, etc,etc.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on March 22, 2011 at 4:15 PM

Nice to have a Snail Kite with a snail. Well done, Ron!

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 22, 2011 at 4:38 PM

Beautiful lighting, love the apple snail here Ron

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

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on March 25, 2011 at 10:21 PM

Beautiful capture Ron! Great position having the wings extended upward to give a clean view of the snail in the beak... awesome image.

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments