Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)
Black-shouldered Kites measure 35–38 cm (13.8–15 in) in length with a wingspan of 80–95 cm (31.5–37.4 in), the adult Black-shouldered Kite is a small and graceful, predominantly pale grey and white raptor, with black shoulders and red eyes. Their primary call is a clear whistle, uttered in flight and while hovering.
Black-shouldered Kites love mice and rats… and this one was enjoying his breakfast today… RAT…
The Photographic Journey of bulldog. 
I wonder if watching Kites should be available on prescription. There’s something soothing about watching them soar, and articulate their tail feathers in flight. I saw one near Stonehenge yesterday, no photo though – I was doing 60mph.
Their flight and hover will always have me stop to watch… it should be available on prescription…
Predator birds scare me! Predator birds scare! Predator birds! Predator! Gulp!
Those are some fabulous shots Bulldog, particularly that last one in flight. 🙂
Thanks LuAnn… doing a bit of catch up…
Exquisite action shots!
Thanks Paula..
Great photos! And I don’t feel sorry for the rat at all. There are way too many of them in the world.
I agree Anneli… and fortunately this is a Master hunter…
Maybe we should get a few of those master hunters over our way. Lots to eat.
Beautiful captures!
Thanks Inga..
Really great shots! Poor little rat…but that’s the cycle of nature…everyone is someone else’s dinner!!!
Oh I back the Kite… too many rats now a days..
What beautiful plumage he has, and how useful to have such huge rat catching claws. 🙂 Great photos again, bulldog.
Thanks AD.. it is a Master rat catcher… hangs in the air like a kite and bang it has its prey…
A lovely set of pictures.
Thanks Chris…
Great shots. I’m glad I’m not his prey–he looks deadly.
He is deadly… hangs in the air like a kite and at the right moment strikes… thank you…
So pretty!
Thanks..
Great capture of a magnificent looking bird Rob. In recent years, the Red Kite has been reintroduced to the UK with great success. It’s surprising how well wildlife can recover and thrive given the opportunity.
That is so true Brian… I just get worried when they start to get less… they are on the top of their food chain…
Great shots again, Bulldog. Kite is very beautiful and the last photo is just Stunning. Pawkiss 🙂
Thank you..
Always good to have a rodent catcher around…does he like snakes? I need a snake wrangler.
Got one of those for you too…
I’m waiting…anxiously…hubby HATES snakes!
Snakes are harmless… they do their best to get away from you… and if they don’t then a gentle stick behind the head pick him up behind the mouth and relocated them.. easy as that.. I love them…
Loving the blurry backgrounds…very artistic bulldog…& that last one in flight is superb! 😀 x
Thank you Amanda…
Bellissima serie di scatti, sono stupende!!
Ciao, Patrizia
Thanks Patrizia
Those reddish-orange eyes is a wonderful feature of this magnificent bird.
Thanks Alex..
Marvelous pics as always.
Thanks Spook..
That is quite definitely an ex-rat.
If one only got a brief glimpse of that guy, one might surmise, ‘seagull’. Never seen one, thought we get lots and lots of YBKs.
I have never seen them down your way.. as you say you have plenty of the YBK…
Wow. You captured some fantastic shots today. This is a gorgeous bird.
Thank you Maralee.. it was a good one…
WOW! Great photographs dear Rob, his eyes how big… I loved them all. Thanks and Love, nia
Thanks Nia…
Lovely photos as usual. How the heck can you tell that breakfast is rat?? Did you see him catch it?
Thanks for the complement… but now you are being Canadian.. the first picture clearly shows a rats arse and tail… and in the other photos I took I could tell from its innards… lol
Hahaha! 😉
Beautiful photos…..but yuck!!! I could use him for my country mouse in the house problem right now!!!
they sure know how to catch them… hanging in the air above their prey and bang they’ve got it..
🙂 Well, I caught four in two days!! Yay me…that bird’s got nothing on my skills!! 🙂