A Game of Kite and Mouse

Gallery: AvianPosted August 25, 2011154 views13 comments

Sugar Land, TX August 24, 2011

D3 ISO 1000. 300/2.8 with 2x tc. f5.6 1/640 -0.7 ev. From car window.

I've been chasing these birds all summer. I think this is a juvenile. There is another, and an adult. I saw and imaged 2 kites with prey yesterday.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 25, 2011 at 11:21 PM

Really nice shot! Great pose and eye, especially. They are very elusive, and I've yet to get a decent shot here.
The juveniles have a lot of rust colour on the breast and head, and I believe it lasts thru the first year so this probably is not a juvenile from this year.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on August 26, 2011 at 12:56 AM

Beautiful light, sharpness and detail.

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on August 26, 2011 at 1:49 AM

Very cool, Angela. Sweet light and nice behavior.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 26, 2011 at 11:10 AM

Great pose, Angela, and gorgeous light.

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

Comment posted by KC Choo on August 26, 2011 at 1:41 PM

Nice one - I think this is an adult also (red eye).

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on August 26, 2011 at 4:24 PM

very cool, Angela--nice pose and the prey is a big plus. seems perhaps just a little dark?

definitely not a first year bird--you can see that it has replaced it's inner primaries and the outer ones are older with one or two growing in--juvenile raptors don't molt their flight feathers until they're a year old.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on August 26, 2011 at 8:01 PM

These are awesome birds Angela. I like the comp and pose of the bird. Looks sharp with good detail. I agree, maybe just a bit too dark.

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on August 26, 2011 at 9:50 PM

Great to get this bird with a mouse, it's wings stretched and beak open, the lighting wasn't ideal on the face but not much you could do about that, sweet image Angela

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

Comment posted by Angela McCain on August 26, 2011 at 10:55 PM

Thanks for feedback about the adult status. I checked and this was 4 minutes before sunset. A little dark I agree, but as it was.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on August 27, 2011 at 5:12 PM

Super capture Angela! I love the Kite's red eye. Beautiful rapture and kill shot!

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on August 27, 2011 at 5:17 PM

Great job getting this Angela. The mouse is a bonus and LOVE the red eyes and uplifted wings.

Registered on June 19, 2008, 1005 Posts, 8028 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on August 28, 2011 at 12:42 PM

Wow, very neat. The pose and the prey make this image for me.
May

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 2, 2011 at 7:26 PM

I especially like this light Angela.
Awesome bird, love that striking red eye, pose and your POV is excellent

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