Drookit Raptor

After the magical misty day yesterday, it rained and blew a hoolie. Such a shame but it didn't dampen our spirits; we trailed the kites at their feeding grounds in the morning, spotted a Kestrel, and a watched a hare sheltering under a clump of rushes. 
The Red Kites were not to keen to come down to feed in the afternoon but they did eventually. Perhaps their rain soaked feathers made manoeuvring in the strong wind difficult. This picture is such a contrast to the extra photo from yesterday.
It was still a thrill to stand in the wind and rain as darkness fell and count them into their nighttime roost as part of the official global Red Kite census, though maybe next year I will volunteer to do a count in Spain.