Male American Kestrel

Gallery: AvianPosted February 11, 2010284 views37 comments

Falco sparverius

Taken this morning. The day started out with snow and fog, the light wasn't all that good but I liked the way this image came out.

The Kestrel had been perched on a pole when it lifted off, swooped down to the ground and missed the prey it seemed to be after.

D200, lens resting on the pickup window, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 320, 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 320mm, 0.0 EV, natural light, not baited. 46% of the original image.

As always, I sincerely appreciate your comments & critiques. Thank you for looking.

Comments

37 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 11, 2010 at 6:15 PM

Talk about an elusive shot! I've photographed this species in flight once and it was a less than stellar result.

My only question is why it was taken at 320 and then cropped when you could have zoomed in quite a bit more (I'm guessing it has to do with the speed of the bird and its original perch?)

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 11, 2010 at 6:20 PM

Luke,

My only question is why it was taken at 320 and then cropped when you could have zoomed in quite a bit more (I'm guessing it has to do with the speed of the bird and its original perch?)

Good question.

I zoomed back because when Kestrels first lift off their wings go straight up for the most part. I've clipped the wings tips more times than I care to divulge

and this time I didn't want to do that. By watching the kestrel you can anticipate when they will lift off by their behavior & movements. I saw it getting ready, and backed off on the zoom.

I knew I'd take a bigger crop, but I didn't clip the wing tips in this image or the one right before it where just the talons were touching the perch.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 11, 2010 at 6:30 PM

Smokin' shot Mia, great focus on the eye, congrats

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on February 11, 2010 at 6:36 PM

Super shot Mia. I like the grey BG and the dull light really reveals the details in the feathers. I like the bird's position and the nice sharpness on the face. I just wish I could get a static shot of this species. I would pass out if I got a flight shot this nice. Well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Spiecker on February 11, 2010 at 6:40 PM

I agree you can tell when they are about to go, but without a zoom I have always clipped something. You anticipated and got a great shot here Mia.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 366 Posts, 4649 Comments

Comment posted by dan elster on February 11, 2010 at 6:40 PM

Just unbelievable. I don't even attempt shots like this. The larger version is even more jawdropping.

Registered on September 23, 2005, 299 Posts, 2443 Comments

Comment posted by István Molnár on February 11, 2010 at 7:12 PM

Wonderful,moment caught well.
Congrats:István
Hungary

Registered on January 7, 2010, 114 Posts, 704 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Wintergren on February 11, 2010 at 7:19 PM

A very nice capture. Perfect exposure and composition.

Registered on January 24, 2010, 15 Posts, 174 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Dubois on February 11, 2010 at 7:19 PM

Beautiful Mia.

Registered on February 22, 2005, 129 Posts, 4739 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Balke on February 11, 2010 at 7:38 PM

No doubt: another excellent capture, Mia. I especially enjoyed reading your response to Luke's question. It really shows that to consistently accomplish this quality of bird photography we need to study the behavior of the bird as well as master the technical aspects of digital photography.

Registered on June 18, 2009, 229 Posts, 2915 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 11, 2010 at 7:46 PM

Sweet flight angle Mia, excellent detail too!

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Kevin Thompson on February 11, 2010 at 7:47 PM

Nice capture Mia of a tough bird in flight...

Registered on March 15, 2005, 114 Posts, 2639 Comments

Comment posted by Danny Shelton on February 11, 2010 at 7:47 PM

Skillfully done.

Registered on October 2, 2007, 14 Posts, 1029 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on February 11, 2010 at 8:07 PM

You lucky girl to get this close and flying. very nice

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on February 11, 2010 at 8:15 PM

What a wonderful image, especially since you were resting the camera on the truck window! Terrific, Mia! I would agree with you that backing off the length of lens was a necessity and I applaud you to have had the presence of mind to be able to do this just before take-off! Much like you, I had taken off the 1.4X TC as soon as I was able to set-up my 500mm on the Gyrfalcon, and I waited for the take-off to follow. Good work, Mia!!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by Mack Barham on February 11, 2010 at 8:19 PM

Great shot. Wish I had taken it!

Registered on August 12, 2005, 537 Posts, 1107 Comments

Comment posted by David Sparks on February 11, 2010 at 8:34 PM

Mia:
One of the more awesome shots to emerge from Ron/Mia Kestrel Land.

Registered on May 26, 2007, 290 Posts, 4270 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on February 11, 2010 at 9:45 PM

If you could give the GPS coordinates of where you all keep getting these Kestrel photos I'm sure we would all appreciate it. FANTASTIC!

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on February 11, 2010 at 9:48 PM

Very cool shot, Mia.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Joel DeYoung on February 11, 2010 at 9:50 PM

What a wonderful capture! The kestrel is one of my favorite birds! Nice details and color. I also like the crop. Glad you backed off on the zoom so you wouldn't clip the wings. Well done.

Registered on July 12, 2009, 92 Posts, 1074 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Saunders on February 11, 2010 at 10:03 PM

Well timed shot Mia. You and Ron are amassing a wonderful collection of Kestrels and Harrier shots

Registered on February 6, 2008, 321 Posts, 3035 Comments

Comment posted by Gaurav Manglik on February 11, 2010 at 11:54 PM

really nice ...

Registered on December 2, 2005, 191 Posts, 2126 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 12, 2010 at 3:29 AM

Excellent pose, perfect detail and a good explanation as to the settings!

I've also clipped more wings than I'd admit and also back off a lot.
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 12, 2010 at 3:54 AM

It's all been said Mia - one of your best

Rob

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Martin on February 12, 2010 at 7:37 AM

WOW - great detail - colors in the eye are wonderful. Perfect DOF - Overall beautiful shot!

Registered on December 6, 2005, 200 Posts, 2209 Comments

Comment posted by Giorgio Gregori on February 12, 2010 at 8:24 AM

I like it a lot. Soft light, without contrast, allows a complete wiev of bird's plumage features. Pose, with talons in evidence and the intense look, is very nice. Sky, although on the clear side for the reasons you describe, is more than acceptable.
Giorgio.

Registered on November 16, 2007, 87 Posts, 793 Comments

Comment posted by Ravee Wattanatanak on February 12, 2010 at 8:30 AM

Great capture and Happy Chinese New Year.

Registered on December 12, 2008, 105 Posts, 786 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on February 12, 2010 at 10:53 AM

Just a super shot all around, Mia. Congrats on this one

Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on February 12, 2010 at 11:35 AM

Wow, very nice Mia, great job on getting this Kestrel, a pleasure to view.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Rhodus on February 12, 2010 at 1:17 PM

A perfect example of where experience and preparation meet opportunity to produce some astounding results. Great work Mia!

Registered on November 16, 2003, 157 Posts, 3326 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on February 12, 2010 at 3:31 PM

Mia, Wow what else can be said? This is super, incredible detail and I love the action. Terrific sighting.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 12, 2010 at 8:34 PM

Mia, I concur with each and every one of the accolades for this image. I've been trying to get a nice kestrel flight shot for three years now. I was sitting three feet from you and missed it.

It sure was fun though, hearing your squeal of delight when you immediately previewed this shot to see if you got it. And you surely did. Ain't it fun when it all comes together...

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lotito on February 12, 2010 at 8:40 PM

Very Nice!

Registered on June 26, 2009, 181 Posts, 1558 Comments

Comment posted by Satie Sharma on February 13, 2010 at 12:50 AM

Love the action here, Mia. I like the detail too despite the crop. I haven't had much luck with (Common) Kestrels here so I am most envious of your picture.

Registered on November 11, 2003, 189 Posts, 5335 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 13, 2010 at 12:20 PM

An impressive image. I wish this was mine.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Sally King on February 14, 2010 at 10:44 AM

Another amazing image. I love the dive bomb position, the curled talons, and your trademark excellent details.

Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments

Comment posted by Kirk Greene on February 21, 2010 at 7:51 PM

Stunning. The feather detail in the large version is incredible. Sign me up as jealous as this has remained an elusive species for me for 5+ yrs now!!

Registered on May 12, 2004, 191 Posts, 1578 Comments