Swallow Tailed Kites (and a few Owls)
Swallow-tailed Kites gather together in July every year to get ready for their migration to South America. There were several hundred gathered here, often dipping down to the water for a drink!
Skimming the water for a drink
Liftoff!
Coming right at you
I like the way the reflection looks like a top down (or bottom up) view of a Kite in flight
Looks like it got more than it can swallow
A rapid pull up from the lake
With the slight ripples in the water, the Kites will drop down and put on an amazing show
Sometimes its the “other end” that needs the water more
Just the right amount to drink with just the right skim of the water
Beak drag!
After about an hour the several hundred Kites all took off for the day of hunting to build up energy for their long flight in a few weeks. We then went searching for Owls. There were a few pairs that we found hiding in the trees along the lake.
While they stand out in these photos, Barred Owls are hard to spot as they sit in the trees near the shore
This one was a little better hidden
Nice light coming in from the top left
Looks sort of sleepy
Watching from behind some of the leaves and branches
Another one in nice light.
Moving on to another nearby tree
Flying out over the water briefly as it moves from tree to tree
The approach for landing from below.
Now that was an amazing day! It is always so cool to see wildlife in their natural environment. Watching and learning their behaviors has certainly helped in getting better at this photography thing. Can’t wait for the next adventure!