Perched, taking off and in flight.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 1600, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning I found this Prairie Falcon in the west desert. When I first got ‘him’ in my viewfinder the sun was still a few seconds away from beginning to rise above the mountains to the east so there was almost no light on the falcon and with the light sky background those photos looked awful. By the time I took this photo the bottom of the sun’s orb had just barely cleared the mountains but through the smoke on the horizon there still wasn’t much light on the bird and the light that did exist had a color cast from the smoke.
It was an unattractive perch so I wanted takeoff and flight shots which meant using a high ISO to get the shutter speed I needed. But I had very little hope of success because the falcon was facing away from me so I’d most likely only get butt shots when and if he took off.
But this time the fickle photography gods gave me a break.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 1600, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
When he took off he unexpectedly and very quickly twisted in my direction. This could have been a very nice shot if the shadow from his right wing hadn’t covered his eye
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 1600, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
But my break finally came with the next shot in the burst. As he continued turning in my direction he gave me a nice head turn with eye contact and a catch light, flared tail and and his body tilted to catch some nice light on most of his dorsal surfaces.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 1600, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Two frames later I got another shot I like, mostly for the same reasons. For this photo I had to add canvas on the right because he was too close to the frame edge.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 1600, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
In this last photo he’s beginning to level out and turn on his falcon afterburners. I got four more shots of him with no body parts clipped or cut off but in those photos he was either a little soft or the shadow from his right wing covered his eye. Or both.
I didn’t encounter many cooperative birds yesterday but it was good to get out again and of course I was delighted to find a Prairie Falcon, even in the smoky light.
Ron
The first thought that crossed my mind on the first picture was , “Oh, darn! That’s an ugly perch!”
You’ve RUINED me, professor!
The third shot…something about it makes me think of taking pride in one’s work. The bird (anthropomorphizing me!) seems to be taking a lot of pride in its flying powers.
Arwen, you might be interested to know that in my first draft of this post I called the perch “ugly”. But just before I hit the publish button I changed it to “unattractive”… 🙂
Love the soft, pinkish light on the falcon (although I wish there was an altogether different reason for it). For some reason, the first shot keeps drawing me back up to the top of the page.
I wish there was a different reason too, Marty. We may just have to get used to seeing smoky light much of the time and that’s really too bad.
Such an odd perch, but lovely feathers on a handsome falcon! I’m guessing this must be either a youngish bird or it’s after molt, those feathers are so beautiful. Glad the gods were with you to catch these great shots!
Odd perch indeed, Chris. I figured it was probably a young bird, in part because it let me get so close. Adults are even harder to approach.
Wonderful. It is sooooo nice when patience, persistence and luck play together nicely. Which they so often refuse to do.
Thank you, EC.
Beautiful, one of my favorite birds due to an education bird who liked me.
Yesterday I went to Antelope Island for releases mostly. In the morning before sunrise there was both a Peregrine and a Prairie falcon. The Peregrine was out on the mud flat to the north with what looked like a duck. The Prairie was on the old stump. There are millions of birds in the water along the causeway, I think the hunting is good. I did not try for photos, too dark too far away. I did pull off and watch through my lens.
April, nice to know at least a few of the larger falcons may be hanging around the island again. It’s been a while.
Really wonderful photo series. Prarie falcons are hard to find, hard to get close to, hard to get in the right light, and hard to photograph on the wing in a good pose without blurring some parts. Just downright hard. Thanks for sharing!
From your comment I can tell that you ‘get it’, Kent. Prairies ain’t easy…
Fabulous luck. And even better shots. Such a gorgeous bird. It must have been a an exciting and fulfilling morning
Granny Pat, the entire morning wasn’t like that, not by a long shot, but those few minutes were pretty exciting.
The photography god certainly was benevolent yesterday. These shots are yummy. ( Is that a fair way to describe the confluence of talented photographer and cooperative falcon? ) I love the bent flight feather and the determined gaze of the bird on a mission. When your patience and persistence pay off we, your devoted followers, truly are the beneficiaries!
Yummy works for me, Melanie. When things like this come together I can (almost) taste it… 🙂
Ron,
Great as always. That smoke makes for a different kind of “golden hour.” Nice shots in flight. Those flight shots and takeoff shots still escape me most of the time. The “west desert” is a big place. I’d be curious but I know you are pretty tight lipped on locations.
Best,
SEC
Thanks, Stephen. I’m actually getting so I don’t mind that color cast so much. But it sure makes a mess of the sky when you have it in the background.
As much as I like the other takeoff shots, I find the 2nd photo most compelling. The contrasts, even the eye shadow is striking. And. of course, the complementary colors of the brass(?) pole and the Prairie Falcon stand out. And, no, I’m not going to suggest renaming it the Brass Falcon.
Lyle, I think that metal looks a little like brass because of the extremely warm smoky light.
From a bad start to a great finish. The sun cleared the mountains and Murphy got out of the way. Excellent. Really pretty birds. I saw and photographed my first ever Prairie Falcon just 3 years ago. Very rarely see them here.
We don’t see the here all that often either, Everett. But getting this close to one was the real miracle.
NICE! 🙂 Beautiful warm coloring and the launch shot is great even with his face in shadows on his face – the wing extension sure shows the power they have. Glad the “Gods” decided to cooperate. 😉
Thanks, Judy. I like that shot too but I sure wish the eye wasn’t in shadow.
Beautiful flight shots! The lighting is nice with a small catchlight. What was he perched on?
Steve, I think it’s a weather station.
Quite wonderful to get to see these photos so far from prairies!
Thanks, Mary.
Yup, about time the Gods gave a break!
Wonderful shots, love em!!
Thank you, Dick. It’s been a good long while since I’ve had a Prairie Falcon in my viewfinder.