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Black Kite Soaring


Black Kite Soaring
Photo Information
Copyright: Nick Acutt (nick27) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 73 W: 10 N: 141] (516)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-23
Categories: Birds
Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ50, Kenko 55mm UV filter
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/1300 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): CeltickRanger's favorite Bird of Prey photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-12-23 1:36
Viewed: 650
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
HI,
Sorry, I couldn't get a christmas related photo in time but will hopefully have one for tomorrow,

The Black Kite (Milvus migrans) is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers.

This kite is a widespread species throughout the temperate and tropical parts of Eurasia and parts of Australasia. Curiously, it is not found in the Indonesian archipelago between the South East Asian mainland and the Wallace Line. Vagrants, most likely of the Black-eared Kite, on occasion range far into the Pacific, out to the Hawaiian islands (AOU 2000).

European and central Asian birds (subspecies M. m. milvus and M. m. lineatus respectively) are migratory, moving to the tropics in winter, but races in warmer regions such as the Indian M. m. govinda (Pariah Kite) or the Australasian M. m. affinis (Fork-tailed Kite), are resident.

In the northern winter, it is therefore common to have a resident race and a distinguishable migrant form present together in these hotter areas.

In the United Kingdom, the Black Kite occurs only as a wanderer on migration. These birds are usually of the nominate race, but in November 2006 a juvenile of the eastern lineatus, not previously recorded in western Europe, was found in Lincolnshire.

Black Kites will take small live prey as well as fish, household refuse and carrion. They are well adapted to living in cities and are found even in densely populated areas. They are attracted to fires and smoke where they seek escaping insect prey. Large numbers may be seen soaring in thermals over cities. In some places they will readily swoop to take to food offered by humans, their habit of swooping to pick up dead rodents from roads often leads to them being hit by vehicles. They are also a major nuisance at some airports where they are considered important birdstrike hazards.

The Black Kite can be distinguished from the Red Kite by its slightly smaller size, less forked tail and generally dark plumage without any rufous.

The Black Kite nests in forest trees, often close to other kites. In winter, many kites will roost together
ramthakur, Debz, undoredo, Argus, marhowie, vanderschelden, jaycee, nglen, Alex99, jcoowanitwong, joey, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Nick, this is a very good image of a Black Kite in flight. You have frozen the bird in mid-flight with its wings making a fascinting formation.
Well done and TFS.
Ram

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
  • [2007-12-23 2:52]

Hi Nick, you have a very sharp and clear shot of the Kite here. I have been trying to get shots of the Red Kites here in the UK, but I think my lens and my techical skills are not up to it. This one is particularly good with the light on the bird showing amazing detail on the feathers. Perfect freeze frame shot, well exposed and looks great against the blue sky.
Best wishes
tfs
debz

Hello Nick,
Very beautiful and excellent in-flight shot of this Black Kite you present here.
You've captured the very nice pose of this fella, with superb focusing.
Also, lovley natural lights and colours here.
Well done, and TFS, :-)
Best wishes,
Kevin

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2596 W: 133 N: 7433] (23169)
  • [2007-12-23 3:25]

Hello Nick,
This is an excellent in-flight shot of an African Back Kite. You caught him with fine sharpness, at a good moment, in good lighting and composed the image well in the almost clear sky.
Well done, thanks and best wishes for Christmas and the New Year,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 355 W: 51 N: 476] (2056)
  • [2007-12-23 3:32]

Hi Nick
great sharp shot, nicelly capture and frozen in air, very nice colors
regards, Dejan

Hi Nick,
Well exposed image with great color, and I like your lightly clouded BG..Good detail, POV, pose, and it's well composed.
Hope Santa brings you everything you've asked for..photograpically speaking of course :)
Merry Christmas!
Howard

Hello Nick,
Good moment; like the way the Kite displays its wing...
Well done
TFS
Annick
Wishes...;-)

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1681 W: 242 N: 5550] (19643)
  • [2007-12-23 4:05]

WOW! Amazing shot Nick!
IMHO this one is your best so far!
It is so sharp and the clarity is impeccable.
Superb pose and great composition.
I hope you enjoy your new Photoshop CS3!
Great lighting and exposure.
Well done,
Joe

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 477 W: 0 N: 926] (7973)
  • [2007-12-23 7:13]

Hi Nick,

Nice in flight shot of a beautiful bird. Great actionshot, sharp and superb details.

regards,
Zeno.

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 379 W: 0 N: 360] (1947)
  • [2007-12-23 7:52]

Hi Nick,
This is a wery good image, exellent in-flight shot
well done

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1778 W: 8 N: 4597] (14871)
  • [2007-12-23 9:25]

Hi Nick,

Wonderful in-flight shot of this Black Kite. Wonderful details of the wings and face. You froze him in a spectacular position showing off those wings. Excellent photo.

Jane

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1988 W: 5 N: 5524] (20880)
  • [2007-12-23 9:54]

Hi Nick. You have done so well with the kit ypu have. Its a very good in flight shot of this beautiful bird. good detail and natural colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year.

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3029 W: 148 N: 4520] (14595)
  • [2007-12-23 11:02]

Hi Nick.
You are fine fellow. Great in-flight picture with excellent quality. All is perfect: timing, exposure framing and sharpness. Colours are fine too. Bravo and best wishes and Merry Christmas.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2078 W: 216 N: 3757] (12468)
  • [2007-12-23 13:32]

Hi Nick

A great capture from you really, especially taking into consideration the gear - a bridge camera not a big dSLR and some huge zoom leans.
With a little imagination, i think you can make any picture a Christmas related one; for instance, you can always call this beautiful kite one of Santa’s scouts whose mission is to see who's been good and bad :)
Anyway, it's really terrific and i love seeing such excellent details and colors on its plumage.
Good timing and control over the exposure, too.

Bravo, TFS and Happy Holidays!
Horia

Hi Nick,
Admire this fine in-flight shot. Sharp and well exposed image. Very nice composition. TFS,
JC

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1329 W: 107 N: 4785] (21248)
  • [2007-12-24 1:17]

Hello Nick, great shot of this Kite in flight ! Great exposure, sharp details and good composition. Well done, have a happy Christmas !

Mario

hello Nick

superb in-flight shot of this Black Kite, with fine POv and framing,
i love the very good space in front of the Kite, lovely luminosity
of the image and blue sky, great sharpness and details of the subject,

TFS

Asbed

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