Scozmo's Photery

February 7th 2025

I take way too many images and spend the rest of my time trying to catch up on editing but, sometimes you are presented with an opportunity that you just cannot pass by, given the right circumstances. Nothing worse than seeing the chance but you’re unable to grab it, like, when you’re driving.

On this occasion I was driving but, on a quiet country road so I grabbed the chance and stopped. Down side, it’s a pretty windy road and I couldn’t get right off to the side so I tried to choose the best spot, hazards on and ears pinned back listening for vehicles approaching.

Red Kites. A few of them and pretty close to the road. I walked around the car, onto the grassy verge and started grabbing shots.

The road is behind me and curves off to my left and downhill, that’s where I had first come up over the brow and spotted this bird perched on the fence-post but, as I slowed I saw a few more flying around.

It was one of those wow moments as I realised there were around five or six birds swooping and swirling overhead, I didn’t know where to start! Then one bird demanded attention.

I use a Nikon 180-600mm on a Nikon Z7ii and I reminded myself I don’t need to be at full length all the time so, I tried to ensure I was getting the bird in the frame.

They were all around me, keeping track of where became hard work.

Some of them were closer than I’ve ever been to such a beautiful hunter.

The word awesome gets used so much these days, like “literally” 😦 but, I almost felt fear as they swooped over my head, pretty damned close.

I was standing on the grassy verge, leaning on the roof of the car and trying to keep my ears peeled for vehicles, this is not a wide road and I was stopped just past a bend but, I hoped, far enough to give warning.

I had identified one bird as “Nick” two nicks in his or her wings! 🙂 Another had damage to its right wing, I wonder if this was a mating thing and there’d been competition?

There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that these birds were very aware of my presence.

There was quite a lot of eye to eye contact! “Do these birds ever attack a human?”

I mean, look at those eyes!!!!!

It’s at times like these that I wish I was a better photographer, it’s always after the event!!

I never counted the number of shots I took, it was …………… plenty!

All of this took place within five minutes, most of these shots are within three!

You may notice that most of these are the same bird, I guess I focussed on one for a while but, there were around six if my memory serves me right?

I’ve watched them play in the air before and they are amazing flyers.

Remember I said they were getting pretty close?

Right over my head and having a good look at me, maybe liked the lens? 🙂

Here’s an example of how close …

I almost fell on my butt a few times 🙂

OK, so I got a few shots 😉 Almost done, I just loved this last couple.

OK, thank you for staying with it, if you have 🙂 I had an amazing few minutes standing at the roadside on a remote piece of moorland around 3 miles from home. The backdrop to all of this activity just never got into a shot so, here it is.

Balintore castle, a restoration project and a fabulous area for raptors, including the odd Eagle or two from time to time; I have yet to spot a Golden Eagle in the area but, fingers crossed.

Visit Balintore castle.

So, thanks for bearing with me and ALL these shots but, I had a heck of an encounter but there’s always room for another, right?

Stay well all.

wanderings