The red flame

I believe the red kite is the most beautiful bird of prey I have ever seen in Poland. I have been trying to photograph this bird for over two years. However, it was a big challenge. I often saw a kite in Masuria, where there are many nesting pairs, but I did not end up capturing it in a photo. 

First of all, I did not have much idea about their behavior. 

Success in photographing birds or animals depends to a large extent on how much you know about them and how careful an observer you are. So those two years were just a process of gaining experience and collecting observations. The experience was priceless. 

I thought I would have to wait until next spring for another chance. It was a sunny, very cold winter morning. It was around -15 C. A cold wind was blowing. Not much happened. It was slowly approaching noon. The photographic conditions were excellent. And when it seemed that nothing interesting would happen that day, a large bird landed on the ground. I saw it from behind because the wind was blowing in my face. When the bird landed, it spread its wings and tail wide. Oh, that beautiful, long, fan-shaped, orange-red tail. The red flame. It is so characteristic. I couldn't believe that there she was - a red kite. She appeared in the most unexpected place - in the center of Poland. She appeared in winter when these birds spend that time in southern or western Europe. She had, so to say, no right to be there, in early January, on this frosty morning. And yet she was. She posed beautifully several times in about 2 hours and flew away. The beauty of this bird is extraordinary. Red and orange colors intertwine with many shades of brown and a contrasting white and cream. Plus a yellow and black beak. And a long, very characteristic tail that allows the red kite to perform unusual aerial maneuvers, sudden turns, dives, slides, and accelerations. This is not only a beautiful bird, but one of the most skillful fliers among all birds of prey.