WT Kites -

Gallery: AvianPosted April 21, 2012330 views15 comments

Preparing for food exchange

D300s
500mm + TC 1.4x
Subject dist: 50m
1/2500 sec, f/7.1
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
ISO: 640
White balance: Auto

Comments

15 comments

Comment posted by Jenaya Launstein on April 21, 2012 at 12:54 PM

Cool image, Sandy! I like the positions of the kites. The prey in the talons is definitely a huge bonus! Do you have any images of the actual exchange between them? If so, I would love to see it!

Registered on February 8, 2011, 254 Posts, 1302 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on April 21, 2012 at 12:58 PM

Good detail and stop motion. The large image is a must view.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 21, 2012 at 1:24 PM

Jenaya, keep the faith! All in good time!
I have hundreds of images of this pair in just the first week, and will have thousands before the season is over.
I'm telling a story with the kites.
Sandy

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on April 21, 2012 at 2:49 PM

Love the action here Sandy!

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Walt Sterneman on April 21, 2012 at 6:08 PM

Great shot Sandy. Those are pretty birds. You caught a couple of very nice poses.

Registered on March 24, 2010, 73 Posts, 1268 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hansen on April 21, 2012 at 8:27 PM

Really nice image. I can imagine the fun you are having with your new discovery. I see them every so often around here (Chico area), but don't know any local nest locations. What kind of trees do they prefer?

Registered on May 5, 2011, 161 Posts, 908 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on April 22, 2012 at 3:19 AM

Sandy: oh my goodness. This is such a cool image. It's a great natural history moment captured, of course, but its also a tremendously pleasing composition full of beauty and drama. Man, these are stunning birds! I don't know what I could suggest in terms of improvement...its just a great image and you sure did your part to make the most of the opportunity. So cool.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on April 22, 2012 at 4:12 AM

Awesome behavior action Sandy

Nice wing position and detail, I like the open talons of the second kite. Sweet Photo!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on April 22, 2012 at 11:50 AM

Great image. Know you will get a good shot of the exchange. Their behavior is so fun to watch. Keep up the good work.

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

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on April 22, 2012 at 12:08 PM

Wonderful shot, Sandy. Great moment captured!

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on April 22, 2012 at 12:50 PM

Sweet image Sandy. Can't wait to see the story unfold. You've actually got color in both birds eyes. Nicely done and nearly impossible with these birds as you know.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on April 22, 2012 at 3:14 PM

Wonderful capture, Sandy. Looking forward to more.

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

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on April 23, 2012 at 4:50 PM

A nice shot of these two birds getting together for the exchange. Looks like you had some tough light to deal with. Just a bit of noise showing up in the darker primaries of the wings. A bit less sharpening in those areas might remedy that. Overall, a super image of a species I would love to spend time with. Can't wait to see the next one.

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

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on April 23, 2012 at 8:39 PM

Nice action with both birds in focus Sandy. I have never seen one. I see a blue cast though?

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on April 23, 2012 at 9:12 PM

Wow, another amazing capture Sandy.

May

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