Male American Kestrel Posing In Side Light

Side light can be a challenge but sometimes nature comes to the rescue. 

 

1/1000, f/8, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in

These are older photos of a male American Kestrel at Farmington Bay WMA. I’ve posted a couple of other photos of this bird in the past but these two are new to Feathered Photography. The background is the Wasatch Mountains in shade.

Before it fell down (or was deliberately pushed over) this old snag used to be a favorite kestrel perch but it was always very strongly side lit in the mornings when I like to photograph birds. So I rarely got photos I liked very much when kestrels or other birds were perched there. But on this December morning the ground was covered with snow that reflected light up to the bird and helped to fill in the shadows that otherwise would have been dense and lacking in detail. I can’t tell you how many photos of kestrels on this perch I’ve deleted because of the strong sidelight and resulting deep shadows on the bird.

When this shot was taken the kestrel had been preening the feathers on his upper back and I just happened to catch him when he pulled his head back and had light on his face for a moment. I like his left foot stuck out for balance.

 

 

1/1000, f/8, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in

In-between preening sessions he performed several leisurely wing and tail stretches. He was obviously quite comfortable up there, even with me so close. He probably thought the side light had ruined my chances for good photos so he decided to frustrate me with interesting poses.

Thanks, snow.

Ron

 

27 Comments

  1. He is a brilliant little falcon! And like everyone else, I truly appreciate your skill at bringing out his best for us to observe and appreciate. Am I observing a little insouciance in his poses? 🙃

  2. Gorgeous! Really stunning, Ron. Perfect conditions favored the man with a keen eye and a long lens. It looks like bird enjoyed the conditions too. I love the richness of the colors and how ‘his’ feet and legs are a perfect color accessory for his feathers. Thank you!

    • Kathryn, to be honest I didn’t need a keen eye to spot this guy. He was right next to the road on a perch that kestrels would often use so I was always looking for them there.

  3. An adorable little fluffball with what appears to be blood on his toes. Even a fluffball’s gotta eat.
    It’s a bit sad that the snag is down and snow is decreasing, which makes these photos a poignant vision of the past.
    Utilizing snow as a reflector; part of what makes you the photographer you are

  4. Thanks snow indeed.
    Wonderful captures of this fluffy acrobat.

  5. What a handsome gent! Looks like he’s adding a little leg stretch in with the wing and tail. Reminds me of a ballet dancer. It is coming up on Nutcracker season, after all.

  6. Thanks for the tip about side light and snow – these wonderful photos really show the power of the combo.

  7. Wonderful. Beck says thanks for these, Ron. Her favorite avian as you know.

  8. Ron,

    He is posing like a professional model facing into the light in the first shot. What cooperation! And your use of a reflector (snow) to fill the shadows! Are you sure this wasn’t a “studio shot?”

    I remember the “old snag” and when the birds were more plentiful. Oh well. I love the Kestrels. Their colors are amazing and caught so well in your photo.

    Stephen

  9. My favorite little Raptors. Really colorful shots with those tail feathers spread out like that catching the light. Long way off till spring, but when it comes I will be once again monitoring two or three nesting boxes in hopes of seeing them become occupied.

  10. I think that David makes a very good point– that it would be difficult to truly
    appreciate the beauty of birds without photography. They are in constant motion ! I’m giving thanks this week ( and every day ) for the beauty of
    birds and for your photography which enables me to truly see it.

  11. Excellent photographs showing the beautiful colours. It’s would be very hard to appreciate the true beauty of birds without photography.

    Snow here in the south of the UK is very much a thing of the past.

  12. Beautiful pictures! I love the color and how the light picks out the detail.

  13. Beautiful! The side light and snow REALLY lit the Kestrel well……. 🙂 His colors are magnificent and his poses show it all off well…. All sorts of birds love those old snags – great for photos too without all the twigs wanting to get in the way…. 😉

    On yesterdays post it’s almost like something unseen clipped the wing feathers on the Harrier – (dozing off ponderings… 😉 )

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