White-Tailed Kite - click picture to enlarge

I know I am a long way from being a "birder", but I have purchased a lens

just for this purpose, along with other skittish wildlife. This Kite was a

wary soul, every time I tried to get nearer, it would stiffen, ready to take

off. I was still at my nearest some 70 meters distant. The mother image

is a 15cm crop from the 20cm width native, and expanded back to a

25cm square at 300dpi. The image is quite busy with the branches in

the base, however, I am hopeful the light coloration of the subject keeps

ones eye set. I am hopeful to receive comments of where I am going

right and comments of where I am going left (or wrong). I thank you for

your time.

-Dave

Hi Dave.  Congrats on your new lens!  Isn't it fun to get your first raptor shot?

I started birding 2 years ago, but it takes time to get the hang of it.  The Photography-on-the-net forums has a very active birder community, and they are gracious mentors, and very responsive to technique questions.  One of the tips I've received it to approach without making eye contact, moving slowly toward the bird in parallel to it.  Move in a bit, stop and wait for it to calm, then move in a bit more.  Birding, I find, takes more patience than anything else I've done so far.  Do you have a bird preserve near you?  Rehab facilities are often agreeable to let you photograph raptors as they exercise them--especially if you offer to give them use access to the images.

Your portfolio is really wonderful.

Good Luck,
Kristin

Fine image. I think you'll find that even 500mm doesn't make things easy, just increases the possible. I had a Sigma 50-500mm for many years that served me well.

The branches don't take away from the image, though I would think about a vertical crop if enough resolution remained.

Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your pointers.  Being a prior fisherman and a healthcare worker, my patience is well developed, it will be just a matter of time until I get in close.

You too have a lovely portfolio.  I particularly liked your Robber Fly on the flower shot.

-Dave

A beautiful result with very nice lighting, Dave!

I think as others have noted you might want to crop this to keep the bird off-center.  Since it is looking to the left I would be inclined to shave a bit off the right. Nice lighting and nice overall shot.

Thank you each for your stopping by.  I have redesigned the image as an 8X10 by shaving from the sides, maintaining my resolution.