White-tailed kite ( a bit graphic!)

[arash_hazeghi]

This is another frame from CA coast, the WTK's are out hunting here but they are extremely skittish and camera shy. Best time to try to get close to them is when they have a prey and are distracted gobbling the voles as fast as they can!


This frame was shot with D850 500PF + TC14E-III ISO 1250 f/5 at 1/3200sec. hand held and processed with C1P.

perch isn't the best but it is his favorite perch!

[arash_hazeghi]

PS. could have made a brighter but it was a very late evening shot so wanted to keep the "mood" a bit

[annmpacheco]

Pretty cool Arash, one of my favorite species I've yet to photograph. I like the open beak with a bit of fur on the side. I'd be happy with this for what it is and keep trying for those flight shots!

[Arthur Morris]

Neat. I always root for the predators. What has happened to your D5???

with love, artie

[arash_hazeghi]

Neat. I always root for the predators. What has happened to your D5???

with love, artie

Hoping to use D5 next week, with the birds small and far I gravitate more towards D850. The D850 is great but it did run out of buffer a few times. At f/8 the AF is also slower than D5....

[John Mack]

Nice to see the prey and the bird. The light is sweet and the perch is pretty neat. Great background.

[Tobie Schalkwyk]

Love the detail & BG Arash! The bird's pose (as if it's protecting its food) is a bonus!

[Arthur Morris]

Love the detail & BG Arash! The bird's pose (as if it's protecting its food) is a bonus!

It is protecting its prey. Usually the wings are spread a bit more; the behavior is called "mantling." Like this, The hawk was mantling its prey.

with love, artie

[arash_hazeghi]

I think he was just getting ready to take off, haven't seen a WTK mantle yet...they usually bail when other raptors show up

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Arash; wrong again!

with love, artie