Red Kites.

[KevinA]

In the late 80s Red Kites were all but extinct in England and Scotland and hanging on by a thread in Wales. A rescue package was started to reintroduce them into Scotland and England using birds from Wales and Sweden. The breeding program has been a great success and seeing Red Kites over large areas of the country is now common place. I'm lucky that one of the release sites is less than 2 miles from where I live in Leeds and I see Red Kites daily flying over my house. These shots from my archives were taken from my garden as they flew over. Their demise was caused by man, but the reintroduction has now caused other problems. They are mainly scavengers but will take live prey. One of their targets is the young of open country species like curlew and lapwing, which are both on the decline due to habitat loss. So again, man is upsetting the balance of nature.

Red Kite, Milvus milvus

Red Kite, Milvus milvus

Red Kite, Milvus milvus

 

[Ben Egbert]

Love that second and third image great flight shots

 

[AlanLichty]

The first and second shots almost makes you appear to be the target with the dead on look into the bird's eyes. Great set.

 

[JimFox]

These are awesome Kevin! Great timing and spot on focusing. #2 is my favorite.

Thanks for the history, it seems like as humans even when we try to correct previous mistakes we then cause more mistakes... We just can't seem to get it right sometimes.

 

[KevinA]

Love that second and third image great flight shots

Thank you Ben

The first and second shots almost makes you appear to be the target with the dead on look into the bird's eyes. Great set.

Thank you Alan

These are awesome Kevin! Great timing and spot on focusing. #2 is my favorite.

Thanks for the history, it seems like as humans even when we try to correct previous mistakes we then cause more mistakes... We just can't seem to get it right sometimes.

Thank you Jim. I think we're better than we used to be, but still manage to get it wrong sometimes

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Sensational!!!

 

[KevinA]

Sensational!!!

Thank you Eric