Red Kites

When I stopped off at Hadrian's wall https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/hadrian-s-wall-46827 I was on the way to Ballymack Hill Farm near Dumfries. Here are a sample of my pics.

Taken with the K3 and Pentax DA*300

1/2000 f4 ISO 400


Red Kite by Alan Wennington, on Flickr

1/1600 f4 ISO 1000


Red Kite 2 by Alan Wennington, on Flickr

1/1600 f4 ISO 1000


Red Kite feeding on the wing by Alan Wennington, on Flickr

Hi Alan
Really like the first one

Excellent shots Alan.

Great detail.

Best regards

:JEALOUS:

Outstanding! Really "wow'd"me!

Thanks for taking the time to comment guys - much appreciated

What a terrific combination - K3+DA*300mm lens and Alan Wennington. Super shots but you didn't need to go all the way to Dumfries to get red kites, they are also in the Derwent Valley around Rowlands Gill and Shotley Bridge.
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Thanks David.

Wanted to go for the experience too. I can recommend it to anyone who is interested (and perhaps a little closer than me). There were 100+ kites on site at feeding time. An amazing sight.

I am surprised that no-one has set up a feeding station in our area.

Really good set Alan. It was one of the places I wondered about for a Meet.

On the point about feeding stations I spoke to a RSBP warden at Ballymack Hill Farm about the places in Wales and Dumfries. I had the impression the RSPB is not keen, in case the birds come to rely on the food supply and don't revert to wild behaviour.

Apparently that has happened in Wales because it's run as a tourist attraction. In Dumfries the RSPB has an agreement with the farmer that less food is put out than would sustain the local Red Kite population, so they still have to forage to survive.

I wonder if that's the situation in the Derwent Valley as is being done as a reintroduction project

Excellent shots Alan, beautifully clear and sharp.

Regards
David

Thanks David - much appreciated

And thanks Barrie. I too spoke to the guy from the RSPB. First thing was to moan that the feeders at the hide at Ken-Dee Marshes hadn't been filled up for at least 3 days. I was really hoping to get the red squirrels. And the hide was about a 20 minute walk from the car park.

After he took that on board we had a good chat. He was knowledgeable about the persecution that continues in our area with poisoned baits on the grouse moors which has contributed to the kites not extending beyond the Derwent Valley.

Meanwhile in Dumfries they have a really healthy population, and the feed they put out is just a small snack in the scheme of things as was demonstrated by the fact that the birds spent more time gliding on the thermals than eating. It certainly seemed more of a social interaction than a feeding frenzy

You should change your Signature to Birdman! I want a picture of you published on this forum, I swear you have wings!
You must live on Red Bull or something!
Or maybe you are just very very good!
Gobsmacking!

LOL. Thanks Jules

Here you go. I was snapped on the beach, Christmas 2011

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blythfoto1/6850216347/in/photosof-54050400@N05/

What's worse it was published in a book http://webstore.ncl.ac.uk/browse/extra_info.asp?compid=1&catid=161&modid=1&prodi...

Ahh Old Father Wennington it is then, you use reindeer to keep up with the Birds, it was obvious really I should have known!

HO HO HO !!!!