Red Kite Diaries

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On Monday I took what is becoming an annual trek to Ibstone to photograph the red kites. On this occasion I decided to arrive early in the hope of getting flight shots whilst the sun was still low enough to illuminate under their wings. It was a beautiful frosty morning, but the kites were not playing. Most were sat up in trees and not flying.

As the day progressed more took to the air - but they have a genius for being exactly where I am not. No matter where I positioned myself there always seemed to be more red kites where I had just come from. I'd get in a spot to put the sun behind me - and they'd all move behind as well. Still, over the day I managed a number of shots with progressively numbing hands.

In the afternoon I found a dead squirrel in a hedge row. Possibly dropped after an aerial squabble. Deciding this could be my lucky break I moved it into the centre of a field and retired to the cover of a frosty hedge to await the kites. I must confess I was dissapointed with these supposedly sharp-eyed scavangers. Two circled right overhead at one point, but neither moved in. I can only assume that they'd eaten their fill of chilly squirrel, or failed to spot it entirely. Nevertheless I managed a few more shots before becoming so cold I had to start moving agaun.

It's always a privilige to spend time with this majestic birds and despite the cold I had a most enjoyable day...

You can see more of the day's shots on my flickr stream.