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<\/p>\nUsually when birds are involved I’m fascinated by minutia but sometimes the ‘little things’ can drive me nuts, especially when they’re photography related.<\/p>\n
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1\/4000, f\/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n Three days ago this male American Kestrel was the first of quite a few raptors I photographed that morning. His chosen perch, shiny new barbed wire, makes me cringe but he apparently liked it so who am I to complain.<\/p>\n This is one of those photos that during processing I just couldn’t get to look quite ‘right’. When I level the wire as I’ve done here the little falcon looks like he’s about to tip over to our left, not by much but I notice it. If I rotate the image so the falcon is near vertical the wire screams to be leveled. Typically I’d process an image like this one to look like it really looked in the field and as far as I remember this wire was really level so for a detail oriented photographer like me this is a no-win situation.<\/p>\n I know, much ado about nothing but on the other hand, details matter.<\/p>\n OK, here’s another little detail but I find this one interesting rather than frustrating. Notice that in the photo above the kestrel is resting on one foot with his right foot tucked into his plumage where we can’t see it.<\/p>\n Where on his body do you think that foot is? How high up?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/4000, f\/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n Soon after the previous photo was taken he flew down the fence line after prey, probably one of the many American Pipits in the area, and landed on this metal post on the same fence. Here he’s in the process of tucking his right foot into his plumage once again – he’s still pulling it up so it’s ultimate destination is even higher up than it is now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/4000, f\/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f\/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in<\/em><\/p>\n Here we see the bulge in his plumage where his foot ended up. I was quite surprised by how high he’s holding it on his chest. It’s signidicantly higher than I expected it to be, especially when I consider how high the top of his foot and lower leg would be.<\/p>\n I probably care about tiny details like these more than I should but to quote Popeye<\/a><\/span><\/span> “I yam what I yam and dat’s all what I yam”.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On an unrelated note:<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Avian tragedy struck northern Utah yesterday when 14 lb. Tundra Swans began falling out of the sky and hitting the ground. Good friend April Olson who often comments here and volunteers for Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah had a heartbreaking day yesterday dealing with injured, dead and dying swans.<\/em><\/p>\n If you’re interested in the details here’s a link to more info<\/a><\/span><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n April has been doing this emotionally draining work for many years. Not because she’s a glutton for punishment, she just cares deeply for birds and critters.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/american-kestrel-7904-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"american-kestrel-7904-ron-dudley\\"")
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