![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/american-kestrel-3440-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"american-kestrel-3440-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\nTo say that a kestrel of either sex has an attitude probably approaches redundancy but this little lady had one in spades.<\/p>\n
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1\/5000, 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 A week ago today I found her on top of a sign post enjoying a main course of vole. I’ll admit to feeling some guilt about approaching her because she obviously didn’t enjoy having an audience during her meal. For much of the time I was with her she just glared at me as she tried to decide whether to continue her repast or fly off with it.<\/p>\n The greasewood in the background is busy and unattractive but I’ll put a kestrel with prey in my viewfinder no matter the setting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/5000, 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 When she turned more toward me and lifted what was left of the vole in her right foot I had hopes for takeoff shots but with her attitude she had no intention of being cooperative.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/5000, 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 She turned on her perch, put what was left of the rodent in her beak and soon took off to my right and away from me. I have more than enough butt shots, thank you.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Readers have probably noticed that these photos aren’t quite up to my usual sharpness standards. Getting sharp shots of birds is hard enough when the photographer does everything right but when you throw operator error into the mix your chances are significantly diminished. I believe the reason these photos are a little soft is because I had my focus limiter<\/a><\/span><\/span> set improperly for the distance I was from the bird.<\/p>\n I’ve always been of the opinion that in at least some ways bird photography is more difficult and unforgiving than landscape or portrait photography. When those types of photographers screw up they can often just reshoot the scene.<\/p>\n But birds rarely if ever allow do-overs. You get it right the first time or you never get it right.<\/p>\n Ron<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" To say that a kestrel of either sex has an attitude probably approaches redundancy but this little lady had one in spades.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/american-kestrel-3458-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"american-kestrel-3458-ron-dudley\\"")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/american-kestrel-3496-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"american-kestrel-3496-ron-dudley.\\"")
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