It’s been a while since a kestrel allowed me a close approach so I appreciated the close action as this female enjoyed her furry breakfast on a great perch.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I photographed her 4 days ago in northern Utah. This photo is similar to the single image I posted recently except that here we can actually see part of the vole that was hidden behind the rock in the earlier photo.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I was a little frustrated by the sun angle because out of many images of her actually eating and swallowing very few of them had any light in the eye but this one was an exception. Here the catch light is right at the edge of her iris.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Once when she was tugging on a long piece of hide with fur attached to one end she almost fell off her perch when it finally pulled away from the vole’s body. There’s no catch light here but I went with it anyway.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Unfortunately she turned to face me for most of the time she was eating so my angle on her wasn’t ideal. I had to really concentrate to get light in her eye whenever I fired off a burst. Here she’s swallowing a good-sized portion of the vole.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
She roused soon after she finished her meal but once again getting any light in the eye was problematic. In a burst of about a dozen shots during her rouse this is the only one with a catch light.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I had been shooting from my pickup on the isolated road but when I saw a vehicle approaching in the distance I had to move out of the way which changed my angle on the bird and perch. Here she’s either scratching her face and neck or cleaning vole remnants off her bill – the action was too fast for me to tell for sure but I suspect the latter.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
By the time she eventually took off I had moved my pickup again so once more our perspective on the falcon has changed. Unfortunately I cut off a large portion of her left wing in the next shot of the burst.
I was surprised she was cooperative for as long as she was. I’m confident that if she hadn’t been eating it would have been a different story altogether.
Ron
Love seeing posts about American Kestrels. This is one beautiful lady.
The Kestrel is a beautiful bird, which is made even more beautiful when it stands on a rock with lichens. The colors in these photos are remarkable and came out so well.
Glad that she was patient with you, but the scene may not have transpired if she wasn’t eating that vole.
Thank you, Ron
I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have, Alice – at least not with me nearby. Thanks.
Interior decorators could learn from this stunner. Love the way the colours of her plumage are complemented (and complimented) by the lichen on the rock.
I’m glad you like the photos, EC. Thanks.
Love the rocks, lichens, grasses, backgrounds…especially in the laast two frsmes as well as the images of the bird…
Thanks, Patty.
Love the “down the hatch” shot! This is such an exciting series to me. The rouse shot is really exciting too.
Thank you, Marty.
Love this series! Especially since it shows a healthy kestrel….always a good thing…reassuring, though still a big worry….
It sure is, Patty. Thanks.
Wonderful series Ron! I’ve always wondered how raptors can scratch their heads without slicing it open with those talons. Obviously, they know what they’re doing!
As an aside, the first egg on the Cornell redtail hawk nest is in the hatching process. There MIGHT even be two hatches today since the second egg has pipped. So, yes, Arthur did the deed. All the worries about him not being ready (he’s young, in his third year) were wrong!
Another aside–Skye the Kestrel remains terrified of live prey, even a tiny mouse that got away and remains in my bathroom, safe and sound. DARGH! Also found a baby rattlesnake inside the mews in the shade. Had to deal with that yesterday, too! Oh the adventures of falconry!
“I’ve always wondered how raptors can scratch their heads without slicing it open with those talons”
That’s an interesting point, Laura. Let us know when you’ve figured it out!
Ron, I’ve been wondering that for about 25 years now. I’m thinking I’m not going to have an epiphany any time soon unless Merlin shows up with a WORKING magic wand and I can go there. All I’ve got is this lousy stick.
Mouse update: While I was at the rodeo, the little tiny thing made its escape from my bathroom into the pantry. The dogs were sleeping while I was gone, but as soon as I got home, they located it in the pantry (all the way down the hall). They busted it out of there, it ran back down the hallway behind several framed artworks I haven’t hung yet. I moved the frames and the JRT and mini dachshund flushed it from there and it headed back down the hallway where the Brittany caught it and crunched it. I retrieved it from the Brittany still twitching, offered it to Skye and she grabbed it. Evidently she likes her food tenderized and delivered in a timely manner!
Loved your story, Laura. Especially your last sentence!
There was a time when I’d have freaked out to have a mouse loose in the house. Just one of the many ways falconry has changed my perspective on things 😉
Wonderful behavioral series Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Always one of my favorite birds. 😀
🙂
Amazing series Ron! I have to admit though, every time I see photos of American kestrels I get a bit jealous, as they have declined seriously here in the Southeast (Or at least in Georgia for whatever reason). I do quite enjoy the 3rd image, resembles how we eat foods such as spaghetti! Once again, great shots!
-Xavier
They’ve declined seriously in lots of areas, Xavier. Thankfully we still have them in pretty good numbers.
Very cool. I extra like that last shot. I continue to TRY to attain a nice Kestrel shot. They’re elusive and don’t like letting you in close at all. I think this is the ticket. Finding one having a meal!
Yup, the two most reliable ways for them to allow us to get close is when they’re eating and when it’s very cold. Thanks, Dave.
Great series. She looks quite proud of herself.
Thanks, Barbara. I think she was.
Wonderful that she cooperated for the photo shoot.:) Suspect she was making sure you didn’t try to sneak in and get her meal that she REALLY didn’t want to move from her wonderful perch with 😉 Gorgeous if vicious little raptor……….
Judy, she truly was surprisingly cooperative. She didn’t fly off even after she finished her meal and I moved my pickup, twice. Good bird!