Snail Kite & A Purple Gallinule

[Eric D]

Met Mark & Ron out at Lake Kissimmee to search for Snail Kites Sunday...and we found one!

What an awesome Raptor to get close to. Mark was able to pull his Bass boat with in 50 or 60 feet of the bird. I have a lot to learn shooting pic's handheld with a big lens on a boat (sometime rocking). Fun time and will be back!!! What a nice dark Gray the Male is, wish we could have spotted a female as well.
To bad for the busy background but he wouldn't move.


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Purple Gallinule right in front of the boat...doesn't get much closer than this.

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[frog4gators]

Beautiful birds...

[CaraRose]

Great shots. I noticed the bands on the kite's legs... are they monitored?

[Eric D]

Great shots. I noticed the bands on the kite's legs... are they monitored?

Yes...I was with somebody who works with FWC and he took us out to a location on the lake. Many are banded since they are an endangered bird to keep up with there movement.

[Ira Runyan]

Beautiful captures, Eric.

I am going to find a Snail Kite one of these days..............

[Singletracklovr]

Nicely done Eric. I always look forward to your photo post. thank you

[armando_m]

What a pair of beautiful birds , outstanding photos

[paulnj]

SNAIL KITE!!!!!!!!!! I love these images

[shootme]

Wonderful series, love the colours and all nice and sharp. Well done and congrats on the feature.

[scott-devon]

Great shots, love that snail kite. Thanks for sharing, that is a bird I'll likely never see.

[paulnj]

The only place outside of FL I have heard of snail kites beeing was a pair found in texas awhile back. They eat apple snails and crayfish