Black Kite!

Shot this at Hessarghatta on Saturday, it was nice to watch the BK hold a mud/clay ball in its beak for long time. I am told 2 reasons about this typical behavior in Kites, they tend to play with other BK's and each one tries to snatch it, be it a catch or any other material. Secondly in some occasions this behavior is observed while the BK try and destroy the anthills to flush out the termites and feed on them. However these are just observations and are yet to be confirmed.

Your comments on this behavior are welcome.

Camera Model Canon EOS 40D, 100-400mm
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/200
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
ISO 250
Focal length 400mm
Handheld

Lowering the colour temperature will strengthen the image. I used to do this during my initial foray into digital. Also, the square crop is not the best for perched birds, as it leaves more negative space on one side (in this case top right).

Nice behaviour observed. Though they are gregarious, agile and often snatch food from each other, this is not meant to enhance their skills. Also, this is not meant to flush out termites and eat. Infact, they allow them to climb over their body. This is not for play. Most of the times they sit on the termite mounds or play with chunks and allow the ants to climb over them and bite. The secretions help in cleaning the parasites in their feathers.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

The perch is nice. Agree that a rectangular (3:2) crop would be nice here. More DOF would have been better.

Sabyasachi thanks the info on BK behavior, as regards reducing color temp, I used WB as daylight. It will be nice if let me know more on this feature.

I will surely try rectangular crop as suggested, thanks

You photographed it nicely. The BG is nice and clean. Agree about the square crop.

Thanks for the behavioural information, Sabyasachi.