Snail Kite with Snail

[Fabs Forns]

The female this time, she flew in with the loot, to eat it at the tree top. The male is sensitive to too many photographers, but the female is not concerned at all by human presence.
Loxahatchee NWR, Palm Beach County.

Model: NIKON D3
Lens (mm): 700 (500/4 VR plus 1.4X)
ISO: 800
Aperture: 6.3
Shutter: 1/1600

[Amy Marques]

Fabs, I really like the angelic pose of the wings! Great timing. :)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

The wing position and snail put this one over the top for me. Are these reeds or grass attached to the snail? Maybe a tad more contrast?

[Brian Barcelos]

Not concerned?! of course not, look at her, she's a Diva!:D Wonderfully exposed Fabs, I love the coloration in the females. Wing position is excellent and I like the "showing off" of the snail. Congrats

Brian

[Fabs Forns]

The wing position and snail put this one over the top for me. Are these reeds or grass attached to the snail? Maybe a tad more contrast?

I think it was reeds, I have another in flight with them trailing from the snail :)

Thanks!!!

[Lana Hays]

Fabs
The wingspread is beautiful......with just the right kiss of light to show the detail. I especially love the color of the BG for a nice touch. You guys are cleaning up on images down there for this time of year.

[Mike Tracy]

Excellent wing spread. A snail is always a bonus.

Small dust spot URC.

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

Awesome pose Fabs. Love the prey and the wings do look angelic. Do you think a little more contrast would enhance it? Thanks for sharing. :)

[Phil Ertel]

What a great pose. Wing spread, snail, and details are are very nice. One very fine image.

[KK Hui]

Gorgeous pose you captured, Fabs!
I too would like to see a slight contrast boost ...

[Ilija Dukovski]

Hey it really is a snail:) Love the pose, the dark sky, some powerful image.
Agree with Axel about the contrast, perhaps the blacks slider in ACR bit more to the
right would do the job.
Congratulations, excellent image!

[Daniel Cadieux]

More contrast would be preferable but I'd be careful not making the whites too hot with that...perhaps just a "levels" adjustment on the darks (I don't have to tell you how to use PS!!) would work well. A matter of preference of course. Awesome wingspread.

[Ramon M. Casares]

I really like the pose and light as well as detail. I would work on the eyes a bit and also a TAD more contrast and satiration IMO would give this image more impact; I wish the perch didn't cover the tail. But that wing spread is great Fabs. Congratulations!

[Lorant Voros]

Fantastic wingspread. Probably the best snail kite photo I have ever seen. Agree on adding more contrast and I'd try to bring out the left eye a bit, but it is just a detail. The image is great.

[jayparedes]

That's terrific Fabs. Congratulations. I love the pose and you can still make out the snail despite it being nearly the same color as the feathers.

[Kiran Poonacha]

Beautiful image Fabs, loved the wing spread and the compo.. congrats..

[Harshad Barve]

Gorgeous pose Fabs,
Wing details are great and snail adding so much
TFS
Harshad

[Stu Bowie]

You nailed this one Fabs. One of your best. Superb wingspread, and just love the detail in this. Congrats.