Snail kite

Gallery: AvianPosted April 19, 201395 views9 comments

Another snail kite from this morning. A male. It was very windy and this bird was maneuvering trying to get into position to catch a snail.

Please view larger version for max detials. As always thanks for looking.

Some will not like the leg bands, but that is a part of the deal when photographing these highly endangered birds. If they are there (leg bands) I leave them. I do not clone things out of my images.

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

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on April 19, 2013 at 6:12 PM

I especially like this relatively close framing & the light/shadows I see Ron.. Gives it that 3D look.
Nice & sharp, love the red eye of course. Great BG as well

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

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on April 19, 2013 at 6:40 PM

How fast was the snail moving?

Yucks aside, this is perfect! The eye, the gaze, the flight pose, the morning light— couldn't be any better. You must have hands like a brick to get this fine a picture with a 500 from a boat!

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on April 19, 2013 at 8:49 PM

Nicely avoided shadows on the head/eye. Fringed tail is good and the bird fits well within the background green/blue

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

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on April 19, 2013 at 9:24 PM

Very nice hovering pose and light on the face Ron

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

Comment posted by James Allen on April 19, 2013 at 10:17 PM

The lighting and body position of the kite are spot on Ron. I also like the fact the trees are not one solid bank in the BG

Registered on December 10, 2012, 14 Posts, 232 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on April 19, 2013 at 11:04 PM

I like the light in this and the pose Ron. Well done! Wish we had this kind of light right now. Colorado is normally known for it's sunny skies, but lately it's been nothing but clouds.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 20, 2013 at 12:24 AM

Another sweet flight shot Ron

I think the background is perfect too.

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on April 20, 2013 at 2:15 PM

Hello Ron, great and sharp shot - I especially like the fanned tail.