Posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 30, 2009 at 6:40 PM
I just got back from a three day trip to south Florida. Doing some research down there. While I was in the field the other day I had the great privilege to see and get a few distant photographs of a species I have never seen before. A white-tailed kite. A life lister for me and very rare here in FL! The lighting was tough and these images are huge crops, but I just wanted to share my excitement in seeing this wonderful bird with you all. Thanks for looking and sharing.
Posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 30, 2009 at 6:40 PM
Another angle
Posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 30, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Last one.
Posted by Luke Ormand on September 30, 2009 at 7:13 PM
Awesome photos and a really gorgeous bird. It's amazing that you can spend your whole life birding thinking you'd never see something like this and it just appears. Right place at the right time
Posted by Mia McPherson on September 30, 2009 at 7:47 PM
Ron,
I got to see one White-tailed Kite while I was in FL, it had not been seen in that county since 1910.
The images you got are far better than the ones I got! Thank you ever so much for sharing these. Huge congrats!
Posted by Ron Bielefeld on September 30, 2009 at 7:55 PM
Lia, that is so awesome that you got to see one while you were here. I almost fell over when I figured out what it was!
Posted by Mia McPherson on September 30, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Me too Ron! Had I not caught the movement of the bird in the sky out of the corner of my eye (which was peering through the viewfinder at another bird) I would never have seen the white-tailed kite.
I didn't believe I was seeing what I saw until I saw it on my screen at home.
Posted by Nate Chappell on September 30, 2009 at 8:45 PM
Congrats on your lifer Ron!
Posted by Wayne Willison on September 30, 2009 at 9:28 PM
Wow, Ron. I've never seen or at least noticed one around here. Good looking bird.
Posted by Ron Dudley on September 30, 2009 at 11:24 PM
I'm very happy for you Ron. What a delight this must have been for you.
Posted by Steve Foss on October 1, 2009 at 12:28 AM
Ron, heartfelt congrats on a lifer.
Posted by bill meikle on October 1, 2009 at 11:21 AM
wow he is gorgeous Ron. I live in Fl and have never seen one
Posted by Richard Ditch on October 2, 2009 at 12:21 PM
This is great! I remember how exciting it was when Lia told me about her encounter. Does anyone think there's a range expansion happening? Their numbers vary here in AZ and they are always a treat to see.
Posted by Mia McPherson on October 2, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Ron, some thing I forgot to mention is that is was one year ago on October 1st that I saw my White-tailed Kite in west central FL, that is during this species migration time period, so I might have seen a bird that decided to go coastal instead of directly across the gulf.
Posted by Austin Booth on October 21, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Congrats on the lifer, they are a truly spectacular bird of prey, I love the way they sometimes let the wind lift them so they "hover" while looking for prey. They are a bit more common in California where I am originally from. One time I saw a pair of them do a hand off of a mouse in mid-air so that one could bring it back to the nest while the other continued to hunt, it was an awesome sight.
Discussion
15 repliesI got to see one White-tailed Kite while I was in FL, it had not been seen in that county since 1910.
The images you got are far better than the ones I got! Thank you ever so much for sharing these. Huge congrats!
I didn't believe I was seeing what I saw until I saw it on my screen at home.