Tuesday 26.02.19
Around this time of year I like a trip over to Harewood in Yorkshire to photograph the Red Kite which seem to be thriving around the general area and the best images are always to be had when there's a nice blue sky, so with a weather forecast of a great day today I'm on my way.
It's a relatively straight forward journey by motorway to Leeds but then it gets a little tricky as you need to work your way around the ring road north and out to Harewood. Today I'm not using my normal birding sat nav in favour the in-car version and you've guessed it I'm lost, to add to my woes I'm now stuck in endless commuter traffic and the many road works in the area...doh, I won't be coming back this way that's for sure !
Arriving at Harewood there's just one parking place left, perhaps my lucks changing. As it's still early morning the temperature a little on the cool side there's not a lot of Kite flying action, plenty of calling to each other but as yet none in the air, time for a coffee and a scone.
It's now late morning the Kite's have taken to the air in the spring sunshine maybe up fifteen at a time, another photo tog who's planned the visit a little better than me has brought along some chicken with the intension of generating some action, duly placed the Kite's take a keen interest but still a little wary but when they do decide to swoop down and pick up the free offerings it happens fast, very fast, in fact it would benefit from standing further back which isn't possible at this location.
Now mid afternoon the sun angle is probably at the best position being a little lower in the sky, earlier with the sun higher in the sky it has a tendency to cast shadows on the underside of the Kite. Now with a bag full of images I'm trying to be more selective trying to get that mega shot, hopefully it's there somewhere on the memory card !
It's been a grand day out in some great weather a venue where you could easily bring along a non photography partner, check out the Muddy Boot Cafe.
It's a relatively straight forward journey by motorway to Leeds but then it gets a little tricky as you need to work your way around the ring road north and out to Harewood. Today I'm not using my normal birding sat nav in favour the in-car version and you've guessed it I'm lost, to add to my woes I'm now stuck in endless commuter traffic and the many road works in the area...doh, I won't be coming back this way that's for sure !
Arriving at Harewood there's just one parking place left, perhaps my lucks changing. As it's still early morning the temperature a little on the cool side there's not a lot of Kite flying action, plenty of calling to each other but as yet none in the air, time for a coffee and a scone.
It's now late morning the Kite's have taken to the air in the spring sunshine maybe up fifteen at a time, another photo tog who's planned the visit a little better than me has brought along some chicken with the intension of generating some action, duly placed the Kite's take a keen interest but still a little wary but when they do decide to swoop down and pick up the free offerings it happens fast, very fast, in fact it would benefit from standing further back which isn't possible at this location.
Now mid afternoon the sun angle is probably at the best position being a little lower in the sky, earlier with the sun higher in the sky it has a tendency to cast shadows on the underside of the Kite. Now with a bag full of images I'm trying to be more selective trying to get that mega shot, hopefully it's there somewhere on the memory card !
It's been a grand day out in some great weather a venue where you could easily bring along a non photography partner, check out the Muddy Boot Cafe.
Click image to view
Red Kite
The Red Kite circles overhead, turn on it back and dives to pick up some food would. It all happens so quick that more often than not all you have is a loads of images of the Kite's rear end.
In this image the Kite is actually upside down even managing to swivel its head around at the start of its dive!
Another image where the Kite has rolled over on to its back showing its underside
Free food always welcome and guaranteed to generate some spectacular aerobatic diving picking up food, but you got to be quick.
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