Running the Ridge

[Richard Unsworth]

A Black Kite? and Buzzard play on the wind over the east ridge here on the boundary.
I dont have lens power to get closer so I composed the shot as one with a story.
Strange thing were going on here. The kite was carrying a stone, climbing on the air and dropping it, only to chase and catch it!
But perhaps more odd was he seemed to give the stone to the buzzard too!!

Canon 7D 100-400 F9 iso 400 1/2000 Manual Exp

[Janet Heintz]

Richard,
I love this! this would also make a great Black and White image. Nice find
Janet

[gail bisson]

You describe very interesting behavior. I wonder if this is common?
I kind of like the rickety old fence with it's angular lines.
As you say, the birds are far away and I wish for a better wing position on the rear bird. Because we can't see the birds in detail their silhouette and shape becomes important to strengthen the image. You need both birds to tell the story but from an artistic point of view I would delete the rear bird and rduce the exposure on the sky to introduce more color.
Gail

[Richard Unsworth]

Hi Gail - thanks for those artistic pointers!

As far as the behaviour goes I have checked but cant find reference to it; i would say this is the second time I have seen it!
I cant post here now but I have one pic where the kite is in a vertical dive with the falling stone in the frame. Unfortunately not a good image though.

[Marina Scarr]

Unique and I like it. The fence adds so much as do the colored leaves. I think I would take a sliver off of the bottom. Well captured.

[jack williamson]

Now this is different! I wish the quality was a little better but this is nice. I agree with Janet, might try a black and white with this.

[Ivan Ellison]

Not the usual type of shot seen on this forum, but it does tell a story and puts them in habitat. How great it must be to have these over your back garden every day. I am no expert but from the pic, mainly underwiing pattern, chest plumage and shape of body I would say these are both common buzzards, the passing of the stone may be some form of display flight similar to peregrines etc passing food to each other.
Am thinking of a trip over there in May, will contact you if we book anything.

[Richard Unsworth]

Hi Ivan

On reflection I think you are correct on the ID in this frame. Having said that out of shot is a third raptor, which was one dropping the stone I am pretty sure now this is not a Kite. I am going to post another frame with all three coming down the valley together..The pic for later is not superb, but is pretty unique I think.
With regard to coming over, please do visit Portugal.Note I will be in UK from 4May to 21 May (sorry date corrected) though. You can easily stay in the Algarve and visit this area; its only 45 mins to Faro Airport from this place! Castro Verde famous for its Steppe birds is about 15 mind drive for me.
One critically endangered species here is the European Roller - guaranteed to see one at LPN Castro Verde in May.