Even more Mississippi Kites

Maestro

Better light this time too...

This one had actually flown in front of my vehicle as my son and I were heading off to church. He yelled, "Look Daddy! A Mississippi Kite!" He's six years old. I guess he does listen to me at times. After I got out of the truck this same kite flew down from its perch and snagged insects off the ground twice. The second time it came within about 5 feet of me. They seem very habituated to humans. They have chosen to nest in a neighborhood with large old growth cottonwoods, pecans and oaks. People are all around so that helps me out as I try to get closer.







Sunbathing it seems.

Ric Grupe

Those last two are very nice, Stephen.

Wait till your my age and your sons (3 of 'em) start telling you things that you told them years ago like it was their idea!

dbaker1221

good captures Stephen.. I like the last one best

Giphsub

Cool captures Stephen! You got your kid kid trained well!

Maestro

Ric Grupe wrote:

Those last two are very nice, Stephen.

Wait till your my age and your sons (3 of 'em) start telling you things that you told them years ago like it was their idea!

Thanks Ric. My wife already does that so I should be prepared.

Maestro

dbaker1221 wrote:

good captures Stephen.. I like the last one best

Thanks Dave. That is my favorite one too.

bfjr

very nice

the kites here in SoCal are anything but appraochable :cry

Jim T

Stephen, I am SOOOO enjoying these! The red eyes and the coloring what a fantastic raptor! the expression on the sunbathing shot... It's almost like he/she is saying "just look how handsome I am."

Thanks again for sharing.

Maestro

Giphsub wrote:

Cool captures Stephen! You got your kid kid trained well!

Thanks Mike. As far as my son goes, I have him trained well in certain things.

Harryb

Good set Stephen.

Maestro

bfjr wrote:

very nice

the kites here in SoCal are anything but appraochable :cry

Yes but I sure would like to find a white tailed kite like you have in SoCal. Thanks for compliment on the photos.

PrescottPhotog

Maestro wrote:

Better light this time too...

I'll say Stephen.. excellent light. I really like #2 you caught the light perfectly..

Maestro

Jim T wrote:

Stephen, I am SOOOO enjoying these! The red eyes and the coloring what a fantastic raptor! the expression on the sunbathing shot... It's almost like he/she is saying "just look how handsome I am."

Thanks again for sharing.

Thanks Jim. I am certainly enjoying photographing these kites. They are so much fun to watch and they are very photogenic. I do like that sunbathing shot as well. It does look quite smug with that head-turn.

Maestro

Harryb wrote:

Good set Stephen.

Thanks Harry.

Maestro

PrescottPhotog wrote:

I'll say Stephen.. excellent light. I really like #2 you caught the light perfectly..

Thanks Chris. I like the eye contact in that one.

riddim_maker

great capture Stephen
Haven't seen any kites yet in L.A. this year
This helps me to enjoy your post even more

Maestro

Thanks Russ. I hope you see those kites soon. Like I mentioned upthread, I'd love to photograph the white tailed kites you have in SoCal.

WildWally

Very cool shots ...
They are beautiful birds , which I never got to see in person :cry Are they much smaller than a red-tail , maybe like a Kestral ?? There eyes are so cool !!!

Maestro

WildWally wrote:

Very cool shots ...
They are beautiful birds , which I never got to see in person :cry Are they much smaller than a red-tail , maybe like a Kestral ?? There eyes are so cool !!!

Thanks WildWally. Their eyes are one of the aspects I like most about them. As far as their size, they are bigger than kestrels, but quite a bit smaller than red tailed hawks. I'd say they are crow size, perhaps a bit bigger, with slender, sleek bodies.