Today’s post will be brief. Yesterday’s version of Feathered Photography took a lot out of me.
I posted a similar image of this bird just over a month ago but this one has never been published.
1/6400, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
A few weeks ago at Farmington Bay WMA I photographed this male American Kestrel in the process of taking off. I’m less than pleased that he was looking slightly away from me but I do like his wing position and the well-defined alula on the left wing. I’m ambivalent about the seed pods because their color matches some of his plumage so well it’s a little difficult to distinguish the falcon’s tail from the pods. Complementary colors can be a mixed blessing.
He didn’t go far. His next perch was only a couple of feet away to the left and above him and he has his eye on the prize. His concentration on that perch is pretty intense.
March is finally here and there are rumors of an approaching spring but our current weather pattern that includes reliably cloudy days and intermittent snow and rain is certainly no evidence of that. We had snow again last night but despite the gloomy weather it’s time to watch for paired kestrels at nest boxes.
Ron
Love seeing all the markings on the outstretched wings. And playing “Where’s Waldo?” with his tail. 😄 Is there something up with his beak? It looks like it is either misaligned or he has something in it that’s sticking out. Hard to tell on my ancient iPad.
Good eye, Marty. He has debris on his upper mandible.
Good that it’s just a little lagniappe and not a deformity. Whew!
Ron, what a beautiful wing span along with the Kestrel’s other colors.
I’m sure you are exhausted even thinking about yesterday’s post. I thought about it all day and didn’t want to believe the numbers.
Thank you for the posting and for caring so much.
Those numbers are depressing, aren’t they. Thanks, Alice.
Beautiful photo. I am seeing a steady amount of them while out and about and that makes me happy. I just caught yesterdays post…love each photo! I love that animal… Man’s inhumanity to all seems to reach everywhere doesn’t it. Somehow I don’t think man is doing a very good job with his dominion over creation…in all it’s forms from earth to it’s inhabitants. Just my opinion…
Good news about the kestrel numbers you’re seeing, Kathy.
Lovely bird. Numerous similar discoveries like your post yesterday have me overthinking and reavalulating my personal beliefs . It will be interesting to see the outcome.
Down south where I am right now, there has been heavy rain. The sky is clearing up. I haven’t had time to enjoy nature this trip. I am missing being out and alone, too much constant socializing for me this trip!
Hmmm, your first paragraph sounds a little, I don’t know – ominous?
I hope the rest of your trip meets your expectations a little better.
I love the way the light gray/white stripes on the wing feathers morph from stripes to ovals. I never noticed before this picture. Is there a defined list of nesting boxes in the metro areas? I would like to put one up as well.
I don’t know, Art. HawkWatch International (here in SLC) does more with kestrel nest boxes than anyone I know of. Perhaps you my might want to contact them?
Aah, a warm, beautiful image for a cold morning.
Not to beat a dead horse, but it’s nice to see that this guy wasn’t one of the 586 on yesterday’s list you provided a link to (at least I hope not).
Lyle, that list was so depressing I didn’t read as much of it as I should have. 586 dead kestrels – holy hell!
Nice photo Ron. Love these guys and gals. The tail-feathers do blend in with the pods for sure. Spring is coming and I am hopeful that this year the two boxes that I monitor will have nesting Kestrels. I think we have something like 20 boxes scattered throughout our area and some quite successful, but for the two years that I have done it nothing no far.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thanks, Everett. Good luck with your nesting kestrels this year!
Beautiful! Yesterday’s post WAS stressful I’m sure! It’s -29 with a -51 wind chill at present… 🙁 Spring? What’s that?
Thanks, Judy.
Sheesh, that’s cold for this time of year, even up there. It’s snowing again here at 31 degrees.