Bright eyes

I went for a walk this afternoon. Hoped I might see one of the deer from yesterday (this time poised with a non-macro lens. That'll be me, not the deer.)

In a field beyond where the deer weren't (!) there were a number of birds. Sitting.
They looked bigger than crows. Worth investigation I felt. And was amazed to see that they were red kites!
We are used to seeing red kites in this area but I have only ever seen them airborne.
And I have only ever failed (spectacularly) to capture one on camera.

So, whilst I'm not at all satisfied with the quality of this image (I have trimmed it a little bit). I'm blipping it because the bird's on the ground.

And I shall be wearing pants of smugness for the rest of the evening.