Red Kite nesting site

[Falk]

Sorry for yet an other Red Kite thread, but I hope this is at least a bit different and interesting enough, so that nobody gets bored?!

From my backyard I get this view (@23mm) over some meadows, towards a patch of wood, about 500m away:
#1
I thought an infra-red view fitting to a Red Kite thread, hope you agree
Taken yesterday, using the ZD17,5-45mm, because it is the only wide angled lens I have, which fits my 52mm IR72 filter. It's okay and I am pleased with it.

If you cross the meadows and enter the woods for 100m, you may find the Red Kite nesting site:
#2
This is the view I got in late April, when the female started breeding. Leaves were not yet fully developed, making observations not to difficult. Since late April I stayed clear of the nesting site - until today ...

#3
Full frame view (70mm) of how conditions are now. It took me 15min. to find a line of sight at all! The distance to the nest I estimate to be 75-85m.

Zooming in through the branches at half the distance (indicated by arrows) with Bigma+EC-14@708mm, using high ISO (1000-1250) to get at least 1/200s, I got some record shots (50% crops):
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Hello fellows! I count three "Kitelings" here Not to bad - and they are almost fledged too!

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some stretching

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social behavior

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wing flapping

#8
... and some Vulture mimicking.

I stood for an hour, taking 200 frames, whilst Skeeters and Ticks attacked my naked legs (forgot the repellant). At least on two occasions the male Kite flew overhead, but unfortunately no adult came down befor I had to leave.

Looking back (@70mm) from the edge of the woods towards my house (PV on roof), you'll see this:
#9
The pasture in the right background is the one our horses are browsing on - just outside the frame this time.

There you have it! Red Kitelings at bow shot from home - and at the very edge of what me and my equipment is capable of showing.

Falk

[tomphotofx]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

I'm enjoying this thread please keep it going, I like the narration to the photos. Have you considered swapping the red and blue channels in the infrared photos to give them a different look? Here is an example here http://www.pbase.com/image/55664695

Tom

[gregles]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

These are great Falk

Well worth the parasitic attacks

[Tordan58]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

Great shots and nice narrative.

Keep them coming!

[Falk]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

Thanks for the kind comments guys. I may pay them an other visit, and if I get some decent images I will add them here, of course. In the meantime I need to get the long overdue Buzzard nest check out done, which is even closer to home!
If you follow the border between horse pasture and the hay in my last photo 100m to the right (E), you'll get to a big Willow with a Common Buzzard nest in it. I've not had a look from close by since, well, 4 weeks at least. But I often looked with my binoculars when I'd put the horses out. But there are no photos yet.

Tom, thanks for your suggestion and the link regarding the IR post processing. No, this kind of selective colour channel swapping is something my software can't do, I am affraid. As far as I know, I can only scramble all three channels at once with what I have. One or two programs remain to be checked, so maybe I can ...

edit: I guess I was not paying attention to detail, when I was looking for a channel swapping option. Yes, it can be done. But the outcome is nowhere near the sample picture in the link you provided. I guess mainly due to the overcast sky. There are so many options for IR PP, that one can spend a week on a single shot easily. 'Solarisation' does a good effect too, for example. Cheers,

Falk

[PeterBirder]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

How lucky to have these fabulous birds so close to home.

As others have said keep them coming would love to see how the chicks progress.
Regards.

[Imageryone]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

How nice to have BoP's on the doorstep, so to say. Fascinating commentary too.

[Floribunda]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

Fascinating Falk. And nice to see the environment in which you live.
I am guessing that 3 healthy chicks is a good success rate?

[Chevvyf1]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

Falk, WoW ! I am sooo amazed at your location and Red Kites on your doorstep and Kitelings photographs too


I can feel a trip to Germany coming on your house looks big enough for a gaggle of Twtichers of Red Kites

My Red Kite man said they have nested and eggs are just starting to hatch, so end of June beg. of July I shall be back with Red Kite Breakkers of Chicken Wings and Sausages roasted

[Tordan58]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

I'm envious...

From my house located in a 300k city, at the border between the densely populated heart of the city and the greener parts I keep a list of observations (also known at micro-birding) This year I have so far observed around 45 species including Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzard, Red Kite, Peregrine Falcon and Sea Eagle but nesting raptors takes it to a higher level.

Keep the pictures coming!

[Falk]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

If anyone is interested, I have just posted the Buzzard nest/-ling thread.

Thanks so much for the expressed appreciation everyone!
In fact, I know of several different raptors nesting in walking distance - and I am glad I do. The list includes Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Marsh Harrier, Red + Black Kite, Buzzard, Kestrel and some might remember, the lovely Hobby Falcons. I am uncertain if the Honey Buzzard I see every summer, is actually breeding in the vicinity, but it seems to be.

I keep track of all I see, but enjoy most species from a distance. I know they are there, so I don't have to crawl up their trees and install webcams etc. - as some folks might suggest, to "protect" them birds ...

Chevvy yes, over all a rather big house. But most of what you see is best classified as barn and only a tiny fraction is set up for living - unless your are - a horse

Tord, I really had not thought of you living in a crowded place. But sure, in that circumstance the chances of finding breeding raptors close to your home are slim, except maybe for Kestrels and an odd Peregrine.

[Falk]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

Payed them Red Kitelings an other visit; all are fine and growing fast:
#1
E-30, Bigma+EC-14@708mm, ISO2000, Monopod, 50% crop

#2
E-30, Bigma+EC-14@708mm, ISO2000, Monopod, 50% crop

It was a very windy day, yesterday, and the branches were rocking in all directions. Together with a rather low sun in the morning, light and line of sight were not in my favor. After about 15min. at the exactly same spot as shown by the wider view in my first post, I decided to try a slightly different angle. To be able to move I lowered my monopod by two segments and when I had just made the first step to the left - an adult bird dropped into the nest! Owned!
I spoiled a great chance, by moving in exactly the wrong seconds
BTW: I need to give a correction as far as the distance to the nest is concerned. Having been there again I paid more attention to this point and came to the conclusion, it must be more around the 100-110m mark.

Finaly some diversity for you all to look at. Here is a Cepaea hortensis, which I took in the shade of the woods, on my way back. I like how this came out. Full frame and no fancy PP other then Raw-conversion in Viewer2:
#3
E-30, Bigma+EC-14@440mm, F10, ISO1600, hand held, full frame

Falk

[Tordan58]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

Thanks for keepingh this thread alive. The IQ in teh second one looks quite good.

[Wee man]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

lovely thread good shots and stoyline waiting for more. Make sure you get the ticks removed properly nasty thing can happen if you do not.

[Falk]

Re: Red Kite nesting site

June 22th was the last time I have visited the nesting site. I got to see all three Kitelings and an adult, who came in with prey and fed his chicks whilst I was there. I made lots of photos as usual but nothing special came of it, so I spare you those alltogether.
The current heat + billions of mosquitos in addition to the expactation that the youngsters must have fledged already kept me from looking in the recent past. Two days ago I went to check out the Buzzard nest near by - heard the chick calling all right - and found to my astonishment the first crop field already down. As this field is just E to the wood with the Kite nest in it I took the opportunity and walked the edge of the wood over said crop field. Maybe I can get a free line of sight to the nest?
Not so, but in the vicinity of the nest I soon spotted a full fledged Kiteling, perched on a photogenic Oak branch, busy with dozing and self care - whilst at least one adult circled overhead and one sibling was sometimes calling not far away from within the woods.

The light was insufficient and difficult again; I had to use ISO2000. But the show was nice:
#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10
I like this majestic pose very much. In fact, she had her wings slightly dropped like this quite a lot. My guess is, that she is experiencing some muscular ache from flight training

All of the above are in chronological order, 50% crops scaled down to 800px. Distance to target was about 70m and E-30+Bigma@500mm. The relaxed state of this bird is obvious to everyone. My presens did not bother her during the 45min(!) I stood there, taking photos. I left the scene befor she flew off, with just a bit of free memory on my 8GB card left - for probable sightings on my short way back home.

This might be the end of the story I guess. But eventually I can add some 'flight studies of the whole family' ...?!

Falk