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Thursday, 14 December 2023

White Kite

I spent many years traveling to the Elan valleys in Wales to practice my photography. I made some great friends there spent many a week over the years collecting my photo's. A white kite is not another species but a bird that hasn't developed a red pigment to colour its feathers so it remains white. 
I have only come across four birds of this nature in the past thirty years. It does occur in other species
These photographs were taken mainly on a farm that I visited several times a year. 
I no longer travel to Wales as my friends are no longer with us. Just occasionally a red kite flies over my house where I live just to remind me of the wonderful times I spent with my Welsh friends. I have in stock over 2500 photographs on the welsh red kite.
                                           DEDICATED to  EITHEL  and  LENA  POWELL  

                                                                     GIGRIN FARM
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16 comments:

  1. David M. Gascoigne,14 December 2023 at 11:49

    Pale Red-tailed Hawks are sometimes seen around here.

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    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood15 December 2023 at 23:11

      Hello David, It caused by the body to fail to produce a certain chemical that produces the red pigment in the skin, or something like that.
      Mike.

      Delete
  2. Richard Pegler14 December 2023 at 13:02

    Hello, Mike. These are great shots of the white Red Kite. There was supposed to be one around when I last visited Gigrin Farm, but I never saw it. It was, nevertheless, a remarkable experience, with so many Red Kites, and numerous corvids and Buzzards too.

    Best wishes - take good care - - - Richard.

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    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood14 December 2023 at 23:44

      The farm was a wonderful place and I was a regular for almost 30 years, spending up to 6 weeks there each year. People came from all over the world and bought my pictures. Its a part of my life that I miss badly. White kites are very rare, I think there can't be more than a dozen in the British Isles. Take care.
      Mike.

      Delete
  3. Breathtaking15 December 2023 at 18:07

    Hello Mike :=)
    Good to see a post from you. Lovely shots of the all white Red Kite. Your time spent in Wales seems idyllic. Thanks for sharing about the times you spent there, and your photos.
    All the best
    Sonjia.

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    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood15 December 2023 at 23:25

      Hello Sonjia, I spent a lot of time over the past 25years visiting my friends on the farm, 5 0r 6 times a year. Glorious times, and the pictures of mine that were sold to visitors paid for my holiday. Thats all behind me now and I live a quiet life with my foxes. Take care.
      Mike.

      Delete
  4. Germán Ibarra Zorrilla19 December 2023 at 18:18

    Unas fotos espectaculares, enhorabuena Mike. Te deseo una Feliz Navidad y un inmejorable Año Nuevo. Un fuerte abrazo desde el norte de España.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ana Mínguez Corella19 December 2023 at 20:17

    Great captures Mike...Merry Christmas and all the best for the coming year...

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  6. Mike Attwood19 December 2023 at 23:49

    Thankyou Ana, Happy Christmas and a Wonderful new Year,
    Mike.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous22 December 2023 at 19:13

    Merry Christmas Mike and a healthy new year with many photo encounters with the foxes and (others)
    Greetings Lasse (sellberg nature photo)

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    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood22 December 2023 at 23:39

      Thankyou Lasse and I wish you the Seasons Greetings with many successful encounters in the New Year.
      Mike.

      Delete
  8. waldlaeufer68 Frank Scholtyssek23 December 2023 at 05:13

    Hi Mike
    a very rare bird, never seen here before, great photos
    I wish you a Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year 2024.
    Greetings Frank

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    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood24 December 2023 at 00:19

      Thankyou Frank, the same wishes to you. A white kite can appear anywhere as it is a fault that can happen in many species.
      Mike.

      Delete
  9. Breathtaking23 December 2023 at 07:47

    Good morning Mike :=)
    Thank you very much for your good wishes. I also send you and Jacque my best wishes for a Happy Christmas and New Year, and take care not to fall.
    All the best
    Sonjia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood24 December 2023 at 00:25

      Thankyou Sonjia, Falling is not the problem, its hitting the ground that hurts. Take care of yourself and enjoy the break.
      Mike.

      Delete

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Mike Attwood - Photographer

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About Me

My photo
Evacuated during the second world war to a village in Yorkshire where I lived in the home of a good photographer for more than five years who taught me the basics and a great deal about nature. Well past retirement age I have been a wildlife photographer for more than 30 years. Red Kites have been my speciality for much of this period. I did spend several years snapping wheelchair athletes and organizing the British Road Race Championship. In the year 2000 I was awarded a distinction by the Royal Photographic Society for my portfolio on wheelchair athletes. Most of my pics are digital, using Sony cameras and Sigma lenses. I used to spend many weeks each year with friends in Wales which is close to the Elan Valleys where I got many of my raptor pics. I now get these pictures more closely to home, specially red kites and peregrines. I support my pension by selling my pics, cards, coasters, fridge magnets and key rings etc. at craft fairs, something I wish I had done much earlier in life. I give illustrated talks to clubs and societies on wildlife and other branches of photography that I have been involved in.