![\"american-kestrel-3887-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/american-kestrel-3887-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSnow-covered rabbitbrush is a perch I wish birds would use more often. Its seed heads often stay yellow until winter and when\u00a0it’s covered with snow\u00a0I\u00a0think it makes an attractive and interesting setting for most any bird. But when the subject is a colorful male American Kestrel the combination\u00a0can be\u00a0particularly striking.<\/p>\n
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1\/2000, f\/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS\u00a0 USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I found this one along the Antelope Island causeway as I was leaving the island and he was just cold enough to be reluctant to fly off as I approached. He was fluffed up and snuggled down into the rabbitbrush\u00a0so he didn’t want to leave his comfy perch as he warmed up in the sun.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2000, f\/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS\u00a0 USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n But I don’t think he was particularly\u00a0happy with my presence because he spent much of his time glaring at me like this.<\/p>\n I’m a little surprised (and frustrated)\u00a0that\u00a0I don’t find birds on rabbitbrush more often. It’s a common plant\u00a0in many areas I frequent, it’s often the most elevated perch available and at this time of year it’s loaded with seeds but the only species I\u00a0see feeding on them regularly is the White-crowned Sparrow.\u00a0This kestrel was a pleasant and unexpected surprise.<\/p>\n As promised (threatened…) I’ve been posting a fair number of older images this week while I’m mostly stuck at home during my remodeling project and these images are also from my archives. But the remodel is progressing nicely and\u00a0if the weather continues to cooperate (no snow) it should be completed very soon. Then I can get back to my regular shooting routine.<\/p>\n If the sun ever comes out…<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n PS – What a pain in the butt this text\u00a0has been\u00a0to type! Last night, like the\u00a0klutz I can be at times,\u00a0I\u00a0cut the tip of my left little finger to the bone with a recently sharpened knife\u00a0while I was slicing a ham for dinner so this morning it’s incredibly\u00a0sensitive and sore. Every time I’ve\u00a0had to type an “A”\u00a0it’s been painful or cumbersome or both. I’m definitely\u00a0impressed by how many “A’s” are used in the English language!<\/em><\/p>\n Oh well, at least it wasn’t my shutter-button finger…<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Snow-covered rabbitbrush is a perch I wish birds would use more often. Its seed heads often stay yellow until winter and when it’s covered with snow I think it makes an attractive and interesting setting for most any bird. But when the subject is a colorful male American Kestrel the combination can be particularly striking.<\/p>\n![\"american-kestrel-3895-ron-dudley\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/american-kestrel-3895-ron-dudley.jpg\")
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