Kite Taking Off!

This afternoon we were on a short outing, otherwise unproductive, when we saw a pair of black kites perched at the top of cypresses near the road (near the town of Entressen). I had taken a few shots of the closer one, when he or she took off--and this was the next shot!

Despite its less than black coloration, this has to be a black kite (Milvus migrans--Milan noir in French). We saw at least three dozen during the day, often circling in groups.