Snail kite-male

Gallery: AvianPosted March 17, 2013279 views23 comments

This kite was hunting snails and spotted something below and was looking to drop down, but then decided to move on. This frame is just and the bird turned its head giving me some eye contact. Before that it was looking straight down and you could not see the bird's eyes.

Canon 1DM4
500mm f/4
ISO 800
f/7.1
1/1600s
manual exp.
Hand held from my boat

Comments

23 comments

Comment posted by Edward Scott on March 17, 2013 at 2:08 PM

Great action shot Ron! Congrats.

Registered on February 8, 2012, 22 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by Martin Dunn on March 17, 2013 at 2:10 PM

Beautiful shot Ron. Way to go.

Registered on February 20, 2013, 198 Posts, 1011 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 17, 2013 at 2:59 PM

Hats of and thumbs up from Holland, Cheers, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on March 17, 2013 at 3:02 PM

You gotta be living in super time to catch this so right! Position and pose are perfect!

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Jefferson Silva on March 17, 2013 at 3:57 PM

This is a great shot. I liked the colors of the BG. The details in the large version is great!

Registered on December 18, 2012, 162 Posts, 975 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on March 17, 2013 at 4:08 PM

I really like how the bird has the blue behind and the green beneath - excellent pose and all around great shot

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 17, 2013 at 4:24 PM

Another first-rate image of the species for your impressive collection. The techs are all excellent. The position of the kite is wonderful.

Well done.

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

Comment posted by Danny on March 17, 2013 at 8:12 PM

Gees, imagine being a mouse and turning around to see this coming at you. Stunning shot and excellent work. Love the details and colours, great marking on this one. The eye is incredible.

All the best Ron, phew I would love to see these. Superb shot sir.

Danny.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 165 Posts, 1345 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on March 17, 2013 at 10:36 PM

Another stunner! It fits right in the frame and it's neat that you caught all of the bird against the blue. As usual, the details you've captured are excellent, along with the colors of the bird. Are you sure you don't have a snail on your camera where the pop up flash should be?

Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on March 18, 2013 at 2:53 AM

Very nice job, wonderful open wing spread and the body has just cleared the land, perfect. Expert techs as usual.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on March 18, 2013 at 6:19 AM

Great pose Ron. Nice to get one without bands

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

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 18, 2013 at 12:35 PM

Wonderful timing to get the eye contact and wing spread. Excellent shot Ron, the larger image was a pleasure to view.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on March 18, 2013 at 3:23 PM

Wonderful action and techs.

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

Comment posted by wade pettitt on March 18, 2013 at 5:41 PM

Hi ron , top shelf in every way.

Registered on May 6, 2009, 184 Posts, 471 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Marsh on March 18, 2013 at 8:00 PM

Awesome shot Ron! Perfect pose. Congrats!

Registered on December 29, 2012, 21 Posts, 225 Comments

Comment posted by Dave Walz on March 19, 2013 at 10:24 AM

Nice action shot! I love th pose and you are right about the head turn. It makes the pic. Check out those talons. Wow!

Registered on September 26, 2011, 22 Posts, 67 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on March 19, 2013 at 11:09 PM

Sweet eye contact, wing position and look at those talons here Ron

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on March 27, 2013 at 9:18 PM

Excellent! Congrats on the WP!
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Danny on March 28, 2013 at 12:11 AM

Congrats Ron, well deserved mate and nothing but the best of images. I'm in awe !!

Danny.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 165 Posts, 1345 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 31, 2013 at 11:44 AM

Thanks everyone. Always appreciate the comments.

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

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on March 31, 2013 at 7:27 PM

Holy cow! As you well know, I know how hard this is to do... Hence I sit here with my jaw dropped. Congratulations on this awesome image.