Jay, and an excuse to post my Jay photo from today (Reading, UK)

Hmmm, collage not loading, lets try a slightly smaller one

If you create good art, you've got to celebrate it!

Bonus - same kite, launching itself into the sky

Perhaps a proper Kite photo to compensate, possibly even the same bird.

It did make my walk, the day is yet young, but maybe to day as well!

Chalkie from 2022, the last time I've a photo of them (I've also some 2021 photos):

The camera was still the right way up at this point...

Oh, and a bonus one

And this photo might explain the acrobatics:

There were six Red Kites over Prospect Park, Reading, UK, engaged in something somwhere between playing, dominance displays and out right squabbles. None of the birds fled the scene over the twenty minutes or more they were at it, so I have to assume there was not an serious fight going on!

Canon R5 MkII RF200-800mm lens 1/1250s. ISO 500-640.

Nothing more that I could see - this was somewhat distant, but the male flew up, both pecked for a short while, then the female flew off. They were clearly aware of each other

Well, yes, I suppose there's that...

Nice photo because of the unusual pose + reflection + framing anyway, but a good example of why RAW format is so useful - I'm pretty sure you'd be able to recover the over-exposed areas with the info in a RAW format version (experience suggests at least one stops worth of recovery should be available).

Are you sure its not a squirrel's drey?

I'd let the size get too big!

Big question: why should anyone use your lists rather than a random specialist magazine/website's "Best of 2025"? Or even just poking Amazon driven by Star ratings and skimming reviews. And more serious personal research is usually going to pay off for the buyer.

Since by the sounds of it, you have personally not even tried out most of the things you recommend, it makes it an even bigger question of why use your list?

Lesser question: looking at your list of lenses, your photography interests are showing, or more precisely, it's pretty obvious you are not into wildlife photography from the focal length ranges you are choosing. As a general point, if your lists are driven by purposes, you should make the purposes explicit.

Observation: buying used, without the gear being backed by informed guarantees, is a fast way to heart break

Oh, and in case you just want a classic shot of this clown of a male bird:

Be more confident in your work - those were worth my time looking at!

Across this side of the pond, a buzzard (common or rough-legged) is a bird of prey, if not a falcon, hawk or kite and definitely not a vulture. Even here, a Honey-buzzard manages not to be a buzzard - not that I've seen any but the common buzzard!

The Common Buzzard is Buteo Buteo. In the US, the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is considered a hawk. Oh well.

Of course!

Mmm, but it is a powerful camera + lens, making it easier :) And the light was kind.