A Red Kite (Milvus milvus) circling over a freshly mowed meadow, looking for prey.
This is by far the closest I've come to a wild Red Kite to date. This bird is quite rare but we have a stable population in my birthtown in northern Germany. I encountered this beautiful bird of prey and two others (probably it's mate and last year's offspring) during a hiking trip with a former classmate last weekend. Unfortunately the light conditions were challenging but in this picture, the beautiful plumage can still be seen rather well.
-- Picture taken with a Sony Alpha 700 and a Minolta AF 500/8 Reflex lens. Please note: This is no stock image! Do not copy, alter or redistribute without prior permission!