“Life bird” number 8 of my retirement (year) is a Swallow-tailed kite. I saw and photographed it today in Williamstown, WV. The bird, which usually spends its summers in Florida, has been in the area for several days. I spent the biggest part of today watching and waiting for this bird.
I have two words to describe this bird: graceful and agile. The swallow-tailed kite has incredible flight skills, gliding and soaring with little effort, often performing acrobatic maneuvers.
It was hunting the area, most likely for dragonflies, but I watched (and photographed) it at one point, catching a wasp right out of the air and then eating it as it flew.
Number 8 was a very memorable experience in birdtography.
see a high-res image of the swallow-tailed kite on my Flickr site by clicking here.
Birdtography 
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