I finally got reasonably close to a couple of kestrels yesterday morning at Farmington Bay. This is one of them.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Photos of sidelit birds often don’t appeal to me but in this case I think the sidelight works pretty well (although it was a tricky exposure so I had to do some exposure adjustments during processing). In this final version there’s detail in the shadows and the parts of the bird with direct light on them aren’t too bright for my tastes. He was perched on a sign post so I had to crop slightly closer to the tip of his tail than I normally would in order to keep the top of the sign out of the image.
There are 13 species of kestrels on earth but this one, Falco sparverious, is the only one found in the entirety of the Western Hemisphere. I’m such a huge fan of this little falcon that I often fantasize about how much fun it would be to spend time with and photograph some of the other kestrel species around the world.
But for all practical purposes that would mean getting on a plane so it ain’t gonna happen. I despise the hassles of flying so much that the only time I’ve flown since 1991 was when I flew to Florida a couple of years ago to be with my daughter Shannon after she was very seriously injured in an accident (I’d have walked if I could…). And that trip only reinforced my loathing of airport and commercial airline experiences. Just give me a camping trip in the wilds of the American west and I’ll be more than content.
Besides, fantasies are often more fun than reality turns out to be anyway. And they’re hassle-free and you sure can’t beat the price.
Ron
Beautiful capture. I love their huge eyes. Sonya at WILD HEART said snow in Park City is up to the knees. I assume you have snow also?
Ron, I am seeing your Kestrel on Christmas eve. A lovely and unexpected present. Thank you
Wonderful shot Ron!
I’m guessing those are breast feathers fluffed out; must have been a cold morning.
I will probably sound a little preachy here, but besides avoiding all the aforementioned hassles of flying, the fact of not adding to CO2 in the atmosphere is becoming ever more critical for each of us.
They are and it was.
Not preachy at all, Lyle. And something I’m conflicted by with all of the driving I do for my bird photography.
A little early morning over the shoulder Kestrel ‘tude – LOVE IT! 😀
There is so much to enjoy in this shot. I really like the texture of the top of the signpost. Also, I know you don’t usually like to crop that close to your subject, but in this case it works (at least for me). Every time my eye starts to drift down, the post as well the tail being so close to the lower edge of the frame just drive my eye back up to the top of the bird.
Thank you, Marty. That texture is typical of very old wooden posts like this and I agree with you that it’s a good thing.
It’s amazing how such a small bird can be so colorful. Very nice photo!
Thank you, Jean.
A gorgeous bird, indeed. Kathy inspired me to launch a search to learn about the American Kestrel.
I noted that the black vertical slashes on the sides of their faces are called a “mustache” or “sideburn”.
I used to fly a lot for business and don’t miss it at all.
Ron, thank you for posting this beautiful bird.
They’re also called malar stripes, among other names, Alice. Thanks.
What an absolute beauty.
I’m glad you like him, EC.
Ron,
Yes, finally some sun at Farmington. I found a cooperative Kestrel with his dinner in the afternoon. I haven’t seen the pics yet but I am sure yours are superior… again. You have a nice touch! Always enjoy your posts. Love the Kestrels.
Stephen
I hope you’re happy with yours, Stephen. I got reasonably close to several kestrels that day but the light angle was usually mediocre to poor. I photographed the most cooperative one only moments after dawn and the light was almost too warm if you can imagine that. Not sure yet if I’m going to like those shots. Thank you.
I never knew that about the other species. Is the name sparrow hawk colloquial for this bird or a different species? This is a gorgeous shot. I love the side-lit view. It highlights things beautifully.
Thanks, Arwen. This from Wiki:
“Until the sixth edition of the AOU Checklist of North American Birds was published by the American Ornithologists’ Union in 1983, the most commonly used name for the American kestrel was the sparrow hawk or sparrowhawk. This was due to a mistaken connection with the Eurasian sparrowhawk in the genus Accipiter. The sixth edition of the AOU Checklist corrected this, officially renaming the bird American kestrel. Several other colloquial names for the kestrel are also in use, including grasshopper hawk, due to its diet, and killy hawk, due to its distinct call”
Maybe someday for me I will have the opportunity to get this close to one of these beauties. I like the sidelight here.
I hope you do, Frank. Thanks.
Ron—when I brought up your blogspot on my e-mail listings this morning, your header photo was replaced with 3 commercial ad photos and an announcement that your
blog was under commercial sponsorship– is this your choice or has some rogue outfit moved in ? after opening the post, everything looks normal inside it– what the heck ?
It’s absolutely not something I’ve done, Kris. I’ve always refused ads on my blog. Please let me know if it continues for you.
Kris, this was the problem – it came from my Jetpack plugin. Here’s what they said about it – it shouldn’t continue.
“Jeremy Herve
(@jeherve)
Jetpack Mechanic
3 hours, 30 minutes ago
Hi everyone. I have an update. First of all, I’d like to apologize. The change has now been reverted. The Email ads were implemented for WordPress.com site owners using the free version of WordPress.com, and should not have appeared at all in emails for Jetpack sites like yours.
Future emails for posts from your sites will not include any ads.
Again, sorry for all the trouble, and thank you all for reporting the problem in the first place.
These little guys are my favorites too Ron. In the spring I get to check three nesting boxes a couple times per week as part of our Kestrel preservation program here. So far my assigned boxes have yet to attract a nesting pair, but I am always hopeful this will be the year. My wife wants to go to Jupiter Florida in late January to visit friends and celebrate her 60th. I am dreading it. I think the older we get the more contempt we have for airports and flying.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
“I think the older we get the more contempt we have for airports and flying”
That may be true but for me it’s only a small part of the story. The rest is largely related to security measures, increasingly rude people and being packed in the plane like sardines for hours on end. But the list does go on. And on…
Well, that search just took care of an hour + or so…your comment ‘photograph some of the other kestrel species’ sent me a-looking. Sometimes my mind wanders like that and I lose track of time. They are such little beauties…I don’t know which I like better. I love their little habits that set them apart…especially the tail pumping and the way they can hover for such an extended time. My only wish is to find them on something other than a wire! 😏 I’m with you on the flying …done it twice in my long life (well actually four since I had to get back) but that will be it. I don’t do well with air or water! 😀 I guess I just prefer ‘terra firma’.
“Well, that search just took care of an hour + or so”
I’m still chuckling about that, Kathy. I’ve done the same thing in the past.
Back in the day I used to fly quite often. No more.
Beautiful! 🙂 Only way to get a good look at them is through a long lens – at least around here! I’m with you on flying tho my “traveling” family, who are spread out all over including England, drag me out every few years for some family event….. 😉 It does get worse all the time……
Yup, kestrels are funny (and frustrating) that way. I’ll go for months and never get close to one unless it’s high overhead on a wire and then suddenly and unexpectedly one will pose cooperatively with me close. You just have to keep trying and failing before you get lucky. Thanks, Judy.
I just love Kestrels, Ron and your capture is wonderful!! I can understand why you’d love to capture the different types!! HOWEVER – you are more right about flying than you know. I used to enjoy it but no more!! It continues to get worse. My roommate will be flying to CA from Florida this spring & you now not only have to pay an atrosious (sp?)price for each piece of luggage but you now have to pay for carry-ons AND assigned seating!! Molly is 5’11” and much of it is in her legs so she has always gotten an isle seat. Well now you has to pay for seat selection – grrr!!! Sorry about going off on that topic – sore subject!!! Ah to be as free as a bird!!!
Yeah, I thought about making a list of the hassles of flying in my blog text but figured most readers already knew them and the list would be too long anyway. Thank you, Jo Ann.
I’m with you on the flying stuff. If only I were a bird! This one is gorgeous.
“If only I were a bird!”
Ditto that, Sallie!
Some of my biggest hassles have been simply trying to cross the Canadian border from Montana into Alberta and that didn’t even involve flying. We used to cross that border at the same place like it was nothing. No more.
If I were a bird that crossing sure would be easier. And lots more fun.
Gorgeous!
Thanks, Nancy.
Interesting shot.
Ah yes the older we get the truth to your “fantasies are often more fun than reality turns out to be anyway. And they’re hassle-free and you sure can’t beat the price” become apparent!! Love that statement!
But, I agree, most of our flying are done with for the same reason, but we suffered through to SA, AF, and EU. My son has been to AS on business, but we have no desire to do that, friends think we were nuts. Probably, but I prefer NA. Plus, you have to leave this country to realize how lucky we are to live here.
Dick, I’ve often been told that I’m giving up too much to avoid the hassles of flying. I disagree.
Side lighting is murder. If the shadows are *too* dark, while you may be able to lift them in post often you end up with some freakish color shift happening. Then you have to mask the offending areas and try and fix THAT. Ugh.
Yup, sidelight is tough, Thomas. And too much processing often makes things worse. Very often you just can’t make lemonade out of a lemon and the best decision is to just accept that fact.