Returning to the nest

Gallery: AvianPosted March 18, 2012140 views11 comments

This shot of a Female Snail Kite was taken in central Florida. The Snail Kites in Florida are considered threatened due to there declining population. These are great birds and I enjoy every minute I get to spend photographing or just watching them.
This female is returning to her nest in the Bulrush, after finishing off an Apple Snail.

<50% crop with some sharpening
Canon 7D 100-400mm 1/800 f7.1 ISO250

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on March 18, 2012 at 10:35 AM

Very nice Bill. It was fun shooting with you as always. I really like the bird's position in this shot. The hint of bulrushes below really adds to the image IMO. I may have warmed this up a bit as the color temp seems a bit on the cool side.

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

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on March 18, 2012 at 11:26 AM

I'm with Ron on warming this up a bit. Otherwise a solid image.

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

Comment posted by Peter Cross on March 18, 2012 at 1:53 PM

Nice action pose of this bird coming in for a landing. Nice detail, too but I think some may have been lost due to the size of the crop. You froze the action well and the BG and the FG veg. help put the bird in a habitat context. Some folks don't like the attached jewelry but I look at it as a sign people care about these birds and are trying to help them survive. Thanks for sharing and I look forward to more.

Registered on April 3, 2010, 271 Posts, 1342 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on March 18, 2012 at 3:07 PM

Exciting image of this Kite, a species we have not around here. Like it as it is ! Cheers, Hans

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

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on March 18, 2012 at 4:44 PM

Terrific catch. Love this shot.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on March 18, 2012 at 10:41 PM

Great capture, Bill. I like the landing pose. I agree with Ron, the bulrushes at the bottom really add to the image. Great job.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on March 18, 2012 at 11:50 PM

Very cool landing shot, I like the position of the wings, the dangling legs and how the kite is looking down, way to go.

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

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on March 19, 2012 at 9:03 AM

cool shot, Bill. I like how the bird is dropping in for a landing with talons down and eyes focused. the veg at the bottom adds a lot for me too.

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

Comment posted by Kurt Bowman on March 19, 2012 at 11:07 AM

Nice capture. I agree with others about warming it up a bit, but I might also bring up the shadows just a touch to bring a little more detail out. Nice work and comp!

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on March 19, 2012 at 11:25 AM

Killer flight position captured here Bill, Sweet Photo