Hovering kestrels are stationary targets, or mostly so, so what makes it so darn hard to get really good photos of them?
1/5000, f/8, ISO 640, 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 days ago, near the Bear River, I took hundreds of photos of this male American Kestrel as he hovered over several spots in search of potential prey directly below him. Most of those shots were garbage and have already been deleted. I found three that I liked and this one is my favorite.
Our best chance of finding hovering kestrels is when it’s windy because they can use the moving air to help them remain airborne over the same spot with less effort. But, and it’s a big ‘but’, it’s most efficient for them to remain airborne when they’re facing directly into the wind. So that’s what they do and that complicates matters. A lot.
Just finding a hovering kestrel is hard enough. And it has to be close. But that still isn’t enough because unless the wind’s blowing the right direction in relation to the sun and unless the sun is low in the sky somewhere behind the photographer, we’re very unlikely to get good light on its body or face. It’s the pesky wind direction that has put the kibosh on most of my hovering kestrel shots over the years.
Most of my shots of this hovering kestrel had a poor light angle on the bird (especially his face) because, thanks to the wind direction, the sun was mostly behind him. But for just a moment he turned his flight angle a couple of degrees to his right – just enough to put light on his body. And he chose that moment to stop looking down and turn his head toward me which put good light on his face. That’s when I got the few shots I like.
Don’t get me wrong, the photo isn’t perfect. The kestrel wasn’t very close so this version has been cropped quite a bit. And he’s facing slightly away from me but his head turn toward me mostly solved that problem.
But I’d still call it a pretty good shot and it’s one of the better photos I have of a hovering kestrel. I’ve taken hundreds of mediocre photos of hovering kestrels, and thousands of terrible ones, but very few good ones.
Ron
Note to photographers. This photo is evidence of one of the virtues of taking many shots in bursts of an active bird. The action is happening so fast, and subtle changes are occurring so quickly, you just never know what you’ll get, or won’t get, until long after the event is over.
Such fast little assassins….
Yup.
This shot would have definitely fooled Penn & Teller — both you and the feisty falcon!
Thanks, Marty. Not being a fan I had to look up why fooling Penn and Teller would be a big deal. I knew who they were but hadn’t heard about that particular show of theirs.
It’s our Friday night at 8 tradition here. We’ve seen some incredible magic, including Teller “hovering” last night. 🙂
Ron,
I agree. I haven’t had as much experience as you (obviously) but at least when they are hovering I have a chance to focus on the little guys. And, yes, I delete most of the shots. Spray and Pray.
I saw a Rough-legged Hawk (?) hovering in the same fashion the other day at FBWMA and it surprised me. It might not have been RLH but the hovering was characteristic of the kestrel but on the wrong bird. Do other raptors hover this way?
I still think the kestrel is a beautiful bird… especially against that blue sky! Nice capture.
Stephen
Thanks, Stephen. Yes, Rough-legged Hawks also hover, in the wind or without it. One of my most memorable experiences was with a hovering Roughie very close to me, for a very long time, along the Antelope Island causeway.
What a gorgeous image and bird! If you want to find more kestrels, Ron, come visit Oregon! I delivered a bunch of bird food to someone north of us in the Willamette Valley foothills last week and it was a 21-Kestrel trip! I took the slow, winding route, so we could drive the back roads and I’ve never seen more kestrels here than I have this year. I’m so glad to see more of them than has been typical the past 10 or so years!
“I’ve never seen more kestrels here than I have this year”
Thanks for reporting that very good news, Barbara. Kestrels have taken a hit in recent years in many areas so reports like yours are wonderful to hear.
What a great view of this Kestrel in all his colors and patterns — tail, wings, head, top to bottom, with that brilliant blue sky to set it off — I’ll give it 5 stars (out of 5)! I do appreciate all the care you take with your photography so that the rest of us can enjoy the reward of such a gorgeous sight!
Many thanks, Chris. I’ll take 5 out of 5 any ol’ day.
Ah, Ron – like a magician, you make it look SO easy!
Ha, believe me Carolyn – it isn’t. Not for me anyway.
Beautiful photo, Ron. Their markings are some of the most beautiful of birds, and you captured the light on them perfectly.
Since the kestrel is a sight hunter I wonder if they prefer to have the sun at their back and avoid looking towards the sun while hunting prey? Having the sun behind also helps hide the kestrel from the prey.
In Northern New Mexico most of our winds from the southwest. ( I think this is the general trend for storm tracks in the Western US).
In order for the kestrel to have both, that is facing into the wind for added lift, and have the sun behind them, they would seem to prefer the less common wind patterns of winds from the north.
For us photographers, we of course prefer the sun behind us, which would mean butt shots of kestrels that also want the sun behind them.
I do recall having almost one full hour, and hundreds of images, of a rough-legged hawk surfing a very strong north wind and the sun to the read sides of it. That was a lucky treat to witness this from 75 meters away. ( I have a video of this on my website, Wildlife of the San Luis Valley Wetlands, at the 7:10 time mark)
When I think about the white-tailed kites and kestrels I have seen at the Bosque del Apache lately they were kiting facing north, which may indicate (?) they chose the sun angle/direction over the wind direction? These were not high wind days, and they did use wing flapping to hover.
Do you notice a correlation between wind direction and the direction the kestrels face on both high wind and low wind days? I assume that there must be wind speed at which they have to face upwind independent of sun angle.
Now I have something else to pay closer attention to 🙂
Ed, my observation is that kestrels always, or nearly always (saying always is dangerous), hover facing into the wind no matter where the sun is. If it’s just a breeze, that may be another matter.
It seems to me that larger raptors may have an easier time of it hovering at an oblique angle to the wind – I actually saw a harrier doing exactly that on the same morning I photographed this kestrel.
Beautiful capture. My best attempts have been in bright overcast so no sun issues, but distance has always kept me squarely in the mediocre camp.
Ann, ‘distance’ is often a problem with kestrels. Typically they’re known for their skittishness.
Great explanation and shot. Thank you for both. And for your persistence. My father often told me I was more stubborn than stains. You fit the bill too.
Yup, stubborn describes me EC. My dad used to say that was why my mom and I often clashed when I was a kid – we were both stubborn and didn’t want to give in when we had ‘disagreements’.
So beautiful!!
Thanks, Ron
Thanks, Mary.
Love the black dot pattern on the Kestral’s body and how my eye is drawn from the body to the wing pattern. Nice colors on this fella! Have never seen a Kestral.
Thanks, Kathleen. I’m thinking that maybe you’ve seen them but didn’t recognize them. They’re found on most of the North American continent except for some arctic areas and some coastal parts of Alaska. .
Good example of the triumph of continuing to try over giving up. Really nice photo, Ron.
Thank you, Nancy.
I can’t imagine a more vibrant snd crystal clear in-flight shot of a Kestrel. The pure blue sky is perfect for this image.
I need to thank you for saving me a ton of money. When you explain what’s required to achieve your photos it means money I might have spent on camera gear stays in the bank. I’ll remain an avid but vicarious bird photographer via FP.
Lyle, not all bird photography is this hard. Even many birds in flight aren’t nearly this difficult. Go ahead, cough up the dough!
I really enjoy watching them hunt like this. That moment when they tuck in to a dive is really amazing.
Yup, it is. Hard to photograph “that moment” too. I know, I’ve tried.
If anyone can, I have faith that you can.
I echo what Michael said– the number of factors that you deal with are
SO FAR BEYOND finding the bird and aiming a camera in its direction !
Thanks for the explanation– it was a good one.
Thanks, Kris. Glad you enjoyed my attempt at explanation.
Excellent photo Ron and thanks for the detailed explanation. I have tried this many times and maybe only successful once or twice and never as good as this one. And you are so right about the wind and sun.
I’ve tried many times too, Everett. With only a few of what I would call successes.
I’ll call this shot perfect, and so too will I call ‘perfect’ your description of the many complicating factors, that most people are not aware of, that involve such a shot.
“so too will I call ‘perfect’ your description of the many complicating factors… that involve such a shot”
I appreciate that part of your comment very much, Michael. I work hard at those explanations so it’s nice to know when I do a reasonably good job of it.
Beautiful! NEVER as simple as it sounds for sure……. 😉 Bursts (or spray and pray) are the way to go with things in motion – one of the great things about digital. Of course, burst rate of speed and number of frames one can capture at one shot can also be a challenge. Beautiful little assassin plying his trade. 🙂
Judy, “spray and pray” is another excellent way of putting it.
Good Morning,
What a beautiful shot, a moment in motion.
Take Care,
Kaye
Thanks, Kaye.
Great shot! and very good explanation of “hovering”. In my powered-parachute days as a copilot, we’d have to take in consideration wind speed and direction of wind, and our desired direction, sometimes “hovering” for a long time which is nice when the sun isn’t shining directly in your eyes and you just want to enjoy the view below for awhile. If you’ve ever wanted to fly like a bird, the powered parachute is the human equivalent.
That’s a very good analogy, Terri. Wind direction matters in both pursuits.