Swallow-tailed Kite

[Joseph Przybyla]

These kites gather over the melon fields midsummer in central Florida. They soar above the fields feeding on insects that the rotting melons not picked attract. Light is a problem because the insects are not up in the air until mid morning when light is bright. The birds seem to stay on the night roost until air currents are rising which again is mid morning. Quite a show when fifty or so are soaring above a field grasping insects with their feet. Comments and critique are welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Nikon D500
Nikon 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6 VRII AF-S ED image captured at 400mm
1/3200 F/8 Matrix Metering EV -2/3 ISO 320 Auto 1 WB HH
Post processed in Lightroom Classic CC, Photoshop CC 2019
Cropped for composition and presentation

[David Roach]

Sounds amazing. I've only seen a couple at a time. You did well with the light as it was. The EXP looks pretty spot on and that is a good underside view. Only wish for better light and perhaps tone down the top of the head/neck. TFS

[John Mack]

Neat looking bird. Sounds like quite the show to watch. The light is what it is. Like the composition. The exposure on the bird looks pretty nice.