With its wings fully extended, this red kite cuts across the woodland in search of its next meal. Its distinctive forked tail, long wings and rich russet plumage make it one of Britain’s most recognisable birds of prey, captured here in a moment of focused movement amongst the trees of the Brecon Beacons.

The light catches the feathers along its wings and body, bringing out the contrast between the warm copper tones of its plumage and the darker flight feathers at its wingtips. Behind it, the soft greens, golds and browns of the woodland create a natural backdrop, allowing the bird’s shape and detail to stand out without distracting from the subject.

I wanted to capture the kite in flight while retaining enough of the surrounding environment to give the photograph a sense of place. Its angled wings and forward facing posture convey the precision of its movement, while the space around the bird helps emphasise its impressive wingspan. The result captures more than just its appearance; it offers a glimpse of the concentration involved as it searches the landscape below.

Red kites have a remarkable conservation story in the UK. Once driven to the brink of extinction through persecution, they were successfully reintroduced in several parts of the country, including Wales, where the species has made an extraordinary recovery. Seeing one hunting above the Welsh landscape is a reminder of how far that recovery has come and why protecting these birds remains important.