Anyone who follows my blog knows that I love to photograph raptors and flight shots are perhaps my favorite genre. But I’ve found getting acceptable flight shots of the American Kestrel to be nigh on to impossible (unless they’re hovering). The smaller the bird, the more difficult it is to get in flight, for a variety of reasons, and kestrels are perhaps our smallest raptor.
The best chance is to catch them just after take-off. Most raptors give some indication of imminent take-off (body posture, defecation etc) so you often know when it’s coming, but kestrels generally don’t. They launch so incredibly fast, and in unpredictable directions, that luck will always play a large role in getting the shot. Then, throw into the mix the fact that their speed requires very high shutter speeds and the result is a very formidable photographic quarry.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 640, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Two days ago I was able to get this shot of a female kestrel taking off from a metal post. I like the wing position, light and especially the acrobatic position of the legs and feet. I had the shutter speed to get the bird sharp but f/5.6 didn’t give me enough depth of field to prevent blur in the right wing.
But I think a little wing blur in a shot like this still works pretty well.
Ron
What a nice photo of a pretty little bird!
Thank you very much, Sharon, Charlote and Christina.
Just beautiful… What a perfect shot of a gorgeous raptor!!
I dont’t see Kestrels very often and when I do they are sitting on a wire way far off, so I really enjoyed this marvelous photo. Thanks so much for sharing.
She is so beautiful. Thank you!
Interesting to me that the feathers under her chin are sticking out (which you can only see because this is an awesome shot!) In a tame bird, on the glove, when they do that it’s typically a sign of at least some slight agitation or excitement … wonder if they do it when they sight something to hunt or if she saw a trespasser on her territory. Did you happen to see what happened next, Ron, after she launched? Was she hunting?
Fascinating observation, Louise. Yes, she absolutely was hunting when she launched. She dropped down into the snow right in front of me chasing something, but she missed it. And I missed the shot of her on the snow because of a rabbitbrush in front of me. I’m going to watch for that possible precursor of take-off in the future. Thanks for the tip!
Terrific shot of a challenging bird to capture in flight! I agree about the wing blur, gives the shot a sense of speed, which really defines this bird.
I agree Wally, a little wing blur is most appropriate for this little speedster.
I like photographing these little guys..but I’ve never been able to photograph one in flight. You got lucky 🙂 I like it despite the blurring on the wing, it gives it motion.
Yes, I did get lucky, Mavourneen.
It’s always good to challenge ourselves! I love the raptors, as well, and appreciate immensely you sharing them with the rest of us. Thank you so muvh!
You’re certainly welcome, YTQ. Thank you for the nice comment.
Great capture Ron of the prettiest of all raptors! Excellent detail and that catch light in the eye does so much for the shot.
Thanks, Chuck. You’re right, catchlights can certainly make or break an image.