Taken on 17/04/2019
THE EGG Part 2. (and perhaps more acceptable as a behavioural record). I was in my usual position. There is a small stand of trees about 75 metres away in which pheasants breed. I caught a movement in the corner of my right eye and saw a Red Kite 'playing' with something which was moving in a series of short distances down a gentle slope. Before I could divert my whole attention to this action my impression was that the something was a mouse. The RK was in fact using the tip of its bill (pictures taken) to turn a pheasant egg over and over before finally attempting to gather it in its bill. I can find no reference to RKs eating eggs. I do not think the RK took from the nest, rather it was an exposed egg. There had been a weasel in the vicinity earlier. Unfortunately the bird was startled before the sequence could play out to a conclusion. This image is heavily cropped.
Equipment
Nikon D850 + 300 2.8 + TC20E lll
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