It's nesting season for snail kites in Lake Tohopekaliga. Jim Neiger's superb guidance helped capture some of their antics. I have several I'd like to post in the next few days.
I shot handheld with the 500mm lens and the Mark III. Shutter speeds all above 1/1250.
This endangered bird is one of my favorite raptors. They dine on snails exclusively.
I did, in fact, clone out the banding rings on some of the images, however, I thought twice about it. Fish and game bands a lot of these birds and that's what is. I can go either way.
Nice pose, but just after 4PM the light was casting shadows behind the head and left the tail a little bright for me. Easy to minimize the impact in PS I think.
A nice flight image, Susan, and the snail make this one special. The bird seems a little light on my monitor. You might try darkening it a bit or increasing contrast to see if that makes it pop more. I'm OK with the bands, but then, I was a biologist and put on a lot of bands myself.
Great timing Susan and a lovely image of the sanail kite.. Love the fact that he has the snail in his talons and very nice detail and eye contact Congrats !!!
Susan, I had almost exactly the same picture, but I didn't get the head sharp and you did -- congrats! The shadowed underwing is a problem, but you got good detail and low noise. He was holding that snail right out there and that plus the sunlit head profile is what makes it a winner. I wish I had it.