A Kite's breakfast

It was a birder’s dream, almost.

As I saw the Brahminy Kite head towards me, almost down to eye level as I stood by the stream, I was momentarily spellbound.  It was hardly 20 meters away before it turned suddenly, swooped down and I knew it got its target as it flew up again, rather heavily and clumsily with something between its claws.  It’s a tilapia fish!

(Sometimes to simply stand and watch a bird in action rather than to reach for the camera is truly thrilling – those magnificent wings in motion right before your very eyes, and the feeling as that big bird flew only meters past you is indescribable.)

I was equally thrilled when it flew right before me to land at a dried branch to devour its breakfast.

However, I was rather disappointed when it landed with its back to me. 

And then it looked like it had trouble trying to eat and balance at the same time, so I was pleasantly surprised when it turned round to continue tearing at its food.

And then it looked like even a big bird like the Kite is vulnerable to possible 'snatches' as it constantly lifted its head, between eats, looked around, alert to the persistent bird calls around.

Hoping that a snarl will put off a potential rival!

This was its last scan around and then it looked like it could not take it any more as it finally took off with its partially-eaten fish, perhaps it will find some peace somewhere and I totally lost it as it flew off.