Red kite - fishing!!!

As the title says, I've just shot a red kite swooping down and taking a fish out of the water! Never heard of this before and definately never saw a photo whilst researching them. Question is, is it a rare shot?

Still out in the field with no 3G waiting for these herons to fish. They are not the best, but will update when I get home. Would love to know if anyone has seen this before, as I've got a big grin on my face right now!

Hurry home,Danny!!

Coker.

It sounds pretty rare to me!

From what I understand Kites generally go for carrion or small live prey.

Gosh, that does sound a little unusual. Looking forward to seeing a pic. I gather that red kites are generally scavengers although they will take live prey and are known (apparently) to take amphibians... Maybe this one is branching out

I think you've captured one of those moments whereby what we're told isn't always what is.
The considered -as well as general opinion- is that the 'shite-hawk' ( the red kite being the originator of this expression) is a scavenger that lives upon scraps and carrion alone.
The fact is, however, that this trait can extent to every bird of prey in so much as why expend time and energy hunting for live food when you clock something that has just (or very recently) been killed!
If carrion isn't about or around within your turf at the time, however, then you'll look towards catching it on the wing....which is exactly what you've photographed.

...And any photo-ornithologists amongst you who might want to argue this point, then let's get down to a damned good argu-scussion in a new topic

The archaeologist.

They do fish... I once saw one with a "Fishing Rod" he wasn't
very bright he was trying to use the rod like a spear


See here:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=67145

Home & fed so time to update!

Have been searching every available minute to see if this has been recorded before and have found 2 threads including the one Algi has found. The other one is here which seems to suggest that the RSPB etc. could be very interested!

Spent an half an hour or so searching images on google & flickr and could not find an image, then changed search terms several times and eventually found these:-

One from the birdforum link above here

One from brecknockbirds.co.uk here

This is putting me in a dilemma! The sequence I managed to grab was shot from behind, 2 going in out of focus and 3 with fish in talons relatively well focussed and going by what I've found so far, whilst not great, could possibly be the best of their kind, so what to do with them??!! Am itching to post them, but think that maybe I should find out if they are sellable first (this would be new to me!)?

Anyone have any experience with this that could share any advice as I really want to share!

If you think that you have unique shots I don't think you should post them on the internet until you know their full potential - might be worth joining a few of the birding forums to enquire who might be interested in them.

Now you've mentioned this and I've checked out a few photos I'm pretty sure I saw one circling above the Ceiriog Gorge when me and the missus went walking there on Saturday. I initially thought it was a large buzzard but those markings are pretty distinctive.

Simon

Why not just post a (very) low res version for starters - watermarked. Our appetites are whetted now.

For whetted appetites this is one of the out of focus shots before he grabbed the fish. It is out of focus with quality lowered and a big watermark, but just had to share. Will be spending the rest of the day trying to work out what to do with them, will keep you up to date as and when I know.

They fish in Germany link

John

Absolutely fascinating - and thanks for posting the whetter. Terrific

Well! The good news is that he is a creature of habit as he's just done it again!!

Setup opposite the previous location but missed the shot, well out of focus unfortunately.

Still you can guess what I'll be doing for the next week or two!!!

Have decided that now I know where to go that I will try and get a far better shot before possibly selling it on!

So, photos are going up in the photo section now with a story to go with it even if they are heavily watermarked!

Ah...that'd be kitespeare...a unique bird that despite never quite getting the hang of using a fishing rod was nonetheless acclaimed for writing such classics as 'Midsummer night's Bream'