Diurnal Raptors – Page 53 – Feathered Photography

Feedback From HawkWatch International About Yesterday’s Banded Kestrel

As promised, here’s what I now know about the banded male American Kestrel I photographed on Christmas morning.

American Kestrel Takeoff In A Near Whiteout (+ a little surprise)

You never know what you’ll see when you put a lens on a bird.

An American Kestrel, Rabbitbrush And Snow

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.

Preening Rough-legged Hawk

You’ll likely notice a change at Feathered Photography for a few days.

Adult Bald Eagle On Landing Approach

For some reason I don’t see, or at least notice, the alulae (bastard wings) on eagles very often.

Where Have All The Raptors Gone?

I know my title sounds like a Peter, Paul and Mary song but this is a serious question that I become more concerned about with each passing day.

Do Raptors Ever Deliberately Drop Their Prey In Flight?

I believe that they do and this Rough-legged Hawk is a case in point.

Northern Harrier In Golden Light

I strongly prefer to photograph birds in early morning for a variety of reasons:

Some Recent Birds In My World

This selection of seven photos is a fairly representative cross-section of the bird species I’ve been seeing recently.

American Kestrel Struggling With Wet, Sticky Pipit Feathers In The Snow

First let me set the stage for what’s going on here.

A Golden Eagle In Flight And A Lesson In Depth Of Field

Flawed images can still be of value to the photographer – they can teach us new lessons or remind us of old ones previously learned but temporarily forgotten in the heat of the moment.