Hawk Conservancy Trust Kites

Taken at the excellent Hawk Conservancy Trust, in Andover, Hampshire, UK. The trust both fulfils a conservancy role for birds of prey, particularly vultures, and has an education mandate with superb narrated flying displays three times per day. I use this location as a testing ground for comparing camera systems as there is a repeatable and reliable array of different flying types to test camera systems against. Along the way, I’ve ended up with quite a few shots of these Kites, doing what they like best.

Photographs in this album include: Black Kite diving, Black Kite arial combat, Black Kite melee, Black Kite with his treat, Black Kite either just about to lose or just about to gain his lunch, Black Kite munching lunch, Black Kite head on, Black Kite – nearly nearly, and more.

▸ Technical data — all 22 images
Image Camera FL f/ Shutter ISO GPS
Black Kite divingSony A9600mmf/6.31/2000s320051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite arial combatSony A9441mmf/6.31/2000s200051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite meleeSony A9441mmf/6.31/2000s200051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite with his treatSony A9463mmf/6.31/2000s200051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite either just about to lose or just about to gain his lunch. Given their amazing skill, I suspect the latter.Sony A9397mmf/6.31/2000s160051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite – ‘Got you my precious’Sony A9277mmf/5.61/2000s125051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite munching lunch. The Kites’ talons are amazingly effective in the dining situation.Sony A9277mmf/5.61/2000s125051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite – Wasn’t expecting to see you here.Sony A9275mmf/5.61/2000s125051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite – Got you my preciousSony A9259mmf/5.61/2000s125051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite – come to me my preciousSony A9388mmf/6.31/2000s160051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite – oh buggerSony A9391mmf/6.31/2000s125051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite – in the manner of an english cricketer at the boundary.Sony A9344mmf/6.31/2000s160051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite – damn – where did that chicken go?Sony A9344mmf/6.31/2000s160051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite head onOM-D E-M1X300mmf/4.01/2000s25051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite about to eat his snackOM-D E-M1X300mmf/4.01/2000s32051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite scoping the groundOM-D E-M1X300mmf/4.01/2000s64051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite – nearly, nearlyOM-D E-M1X300mmf/4.01/2000s16051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kites – get. out. of. the. way.OM-D E-M1X300mmf/4.01/2000s25051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite – Mine, no mineOM-D E-M1X300mmf/4.01/2000s16051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite – too lateOM-D E-M1X300mmf/4.01/2000s16051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite – dead heatOM-D E-M1X300mmf/4.01/2000s16051.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Black Kite – the ground is rapidly approachingOM-D E-M1X300mmf/4.01/2000s16051.2073°N, 1.5645°W

For camera settings, techniques and equipment used in shoots like this, see the Technique posts on mcaughtry.photo.