Good light and a cooperative bird is a combination I haven’t had in a very long time but it happened yesterday near Bear River MBR.
After weeks of overcast skies and resulting cabin fever we finally had a sunny day yesterday so I headed to Bear River. Birds were far from abundant and most of the few good opportunities I had were foiled by poorly timed encounters with other vehicles that flushed my birds, malfunctioning camera gear and all around bad luck.
So with my tail mostly between my legs I headed for home but not long before I got to the freeway a couple of unusually cooperative American Kestrels saved my morning.
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 320, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This guy was the most cooperative of the two. I took more photos of him than I care to count (or cull). This shot may look like it was taken just before takeoff but that isn’t quite the case. He was actually struggling to maintain his balance in a strong breeze that kept him almost perpetually off balance so he was using his wings for stability.
But only a second or two after this shot was taken he gave up and flew off.
This is the other male he was with. The two of them almost seemed to be frolicking together as they often moved in tandem from tree to tree. When this shot was taken he was clearly scanning the snowy ground below him for potential prey.
I was a bit surprised to find them so closely and peacefully associated with each other because American Kestrels are known to be both solitary and territorial in winter.
The fact that they were both males made it seem even more unusual. But what do I know, birds are often an enigma.
Ron
Such agile birds!
Yup.
What a pair of beauties. I hope you tail came out from behind your legs and wagged happily all the way home.
Smoke in the house again this morning.
EC, my tail didn’t wag very enthusiastically I’m afraid. I had too many potential opportunities that didn’t pan out.
Skittish they are, both males and females. But in for care, they tame down in a day, which makes it easier to give meds or change a bandage. Not that when they are given the okay they don’t zip off like the wind. They do. In central CA, many will nest in boxes fairly close together, say, every other electric pole, if the boxes are set by agricultural fields. Plenty of little critters to feed the babies. And fierce! The babies sometimes bop out of the box before they are very good at flying, and crows seem to know this and wait for an easy meal. Not! I once saw a mama Kestrel not only divebomb the crow that was after her baby, but she rode him out of sight, screaming and digging into his neck and back. Daddy K stayed behind to keep an eye on the children. Equal parenting, there. The females around here are often considerably larger than the males, so home defense can be safely left to them. Same with peregrines. Lovely lovely shots . . .
Such an informative and inspiring post…yay for the female protecting her babes. Where in central California are the nest boxes? ( I live central calif coast/Santa Cruz)
Thanks for your post❣️
Ron Dudley’s blog/photos are such a gift …thank you Ron❣️I learn so much from your generous sharing ❣️
Carolyn, the nest boxes are on by-roads around Davis, California. North of Rte. 80. There are a couple of groups who put up the boxes and monitor them.
Yay mama. And a big hooray for equal parenting too.
Sallie, I had no idea they’d “tame down” that quickly. Good thing for you guys, huh…
Ron, most do tame quickly, with careful handling. But every now and then, a real freak-a-zoid comes along and that little Kestrel can give rehabbers fits. They are fast and clever and figure out how to slip past you and then the chase is on to get them back into a cage. Even if they have a wrapped wing, they can scuttle under stuff and lead you on a not-so-merry chase. They also bite like crazy. It’s not a tiger bite and won’t kill you but it can sure make you bleed – those little tomial notches cut deep. The other Houdinis are Sharp-shinned Hawks. I had one fly between my legs and get away. It was one that had been orphaned, so it wasn’t physically compromised, but I sure didn’t want a young bird flying off with no flight and hunt support.
The raised wings in the first photo show off the gorgeous bird’s features in a wonderful way. Lady Luck’s change of mood with you yesterday was a gift to us all!
Thank you, Nancy.
So Kestrels are feisty enough to scare even “Ol’ Murphy” away!
I especially like the second shot. There is a neat juxtaposition of his intense scanning with a comical rounded “belly.” I want to “Pop-n-fresh” poke his belly, but I won’t because instead of getting the Pillsbury Dough Boy giggle, I’ll draw back a bloody stump where my finger used to be.
They’re feisty enough to shoo almost anyone away, Marty – including much larger raptors like red-tails.
Gorgeous shots! Who doesn’t love kestrels? I was blessed to house male educational kestrels on behalf of Project Wildlife (wildlife rehab group in San Diego) for many years, but seeing kestrels in the wild will always be a treat!
Down here, they love the palms.
Thanks, Leslie. I’d love the palms too, especially this time of year…
Hi Ron! Just started following you. I love your work and your willingness to share your knowledge and advice. I’ve noticed you use an extender. I’m toying with purchasing one. I’ve heard some negative advice. What are your feelings on them?
Welcome aboard, Kierstin.
I don’t know what gear you’re using but if it’s either Canon or Nikon and you’re using a high end (as in… very expensive) lens there’s no noticeable reduction in image quality with the 1.4 tc. I love mine. But I’d avoid the 2.0 tc because there’s too much reduction in image quality. I sold my 2.0 for that very reason.
Beautiful! ❤️ The males remind me of little ‘harlequins’. I see them every day around here ‘BUT’ and that’s a big but. With farm fields along most every road, the utility poles and lines are at the very edge of the field so they are line sitting and hunting the ditches for their prey. Just even think of slowing your car and they are gone. Most skittish bird ever. I envy you both of these photos. I’ve managed to get a ‘few’ good shots but a Kestral clinging to a wire is still a ‘bird on a wire’ to me. I have one great flight shot BUT I will admit I deleted the bit of wire left in the photo after take-off.😠
Kathy, every time I think of “harlequin” in association with birds I’m either thinking of Lark Sparrows or Harlequin Ducks. Now I have a new candidate for that distinction…
I think that the first shot of this morning is both lovely and visually dynamic– a real treat !
Thanks very much, Kris.
Wow Ron – they are beautiful. Outstanding shots. The first one would be framed and on my office wall here for sure. Unlike Tom above, I have taken hundreds of Kestrel photos, but none as good as these. I have neither the equipment nor the experience and skill that you have. Thanks for posting these.
Thanks, Everett. The proper “equipment” certainly does help.
Good morning Ron,if any bird of prey can be considered “cute” the American Kestrel would certainly,in my opinion,get the prize! BUT,their cute looks belies their impressive hunting abilities.I found it interesting that in medieval times clergyman were limited to hunting only with these birds.I wonder how many tv preachers we would have today if these rules were still in effect! lol… GREAT PHOTOS!!! I’m jealous,i have yet to capture a Kestrel.
TV preachers I can do without so anything that limits their numbers is fine and dandy with me… 🙂
Both photos are lovely Ron, glad you weren’t skunked completely! 😉 The wind and those spindly twigs it was trying to perch on certainly would create balance issues! Wonder if the 2 males are siblings that haven’t quite made the break yet or is it too early for adult plumage?
“Wonder if the 2 males are siblings”
Judy, that’s exactly what I wondered but last night when I tried to research it I couldn’t find anything conclusive.
Delightful!
Thanks, Alison.
This past weekend, I noticed several kestrels, also widely separated. I’d wondered about their territoriality, and you’ve just clarified that. I still don’t have a decent photo of one, so it’s delightful to be able to see so much detail in your photos. They’re such beautiful birds.
“I still don’t have a decent photo of one”
Kestrels are like that, aren’t they Shoreacres. I’ve often wondered what my success rate is with them but I don’t want to be depressed so I try not to think about it. Talk about skittish!