While out on the walk this afternoon on the mount, I saw a red kite hovering ahead of me. I see them around often, and they usually fly away. Not today. This one was still there when I got to it, flying about 10m above me
I stood under it enjoying watching it stay in the spot in moderately heavy wind. It reminded me of kayaking in strong water, or balancing on a wobble board. The tail feathers were tightly clenched, but it’d occasionally unfurl them for a moment of additional stability. The wings were spread out, the (equivalent of) wing flaps doing most of the work of keeping it in place. Occasionally, it’d slightly fold or raise a wing to handle a particular gust. Like a kayaker tapping the water, or me spreading arms briefly on the wobble board to stabilise. It’d flap the wings once in a while, to maintain height and position. Like a kayaker occasionally paddling to hold position.
It was focused on a movement in the bushes in front of it (and of me). But still, it took a glance at me and generally behind it every so often. I loved how it could be doing all those little things to hover on the spot so effortlessly, and yet be comfortable enough to turn it’s head (and just the head) around to stay aware. Again, kind of how good kayakers can twist their heads and upper bodies to scan around while still continuing to keep the boat stable using their core, legs, arms, and experience.
After about 5 minutes, the kite suddenly half folded its wings in the stuka wing shape, and dived. It landed about 5m ahead of me in the bushes with a clear thump (audible in the moderately heavy wind). A moment later, it rose and flew away with (what looked like) a field mouse in its mouth.
I took a long breath, smiled, and walked on. Lucky day 🙂
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