American Kestrel

Beautiful light and great detail. Looks like he had recently enjoyed lunch as well..

very nice--I like the light and the detail. the eye looks really nice in the larger version. I think I might take a few pixels off on the right and add them on the left.

Awesome detail and color Ron. I don't mind the post at all. As you said it is old enough to look very nice in this image. I really like the grey sky behind this bird. It sets the bird off very well. Maybe a bit more room on the right and a little less on the left. Well done.

Nice shot, Ron! The image is fine as presented.

Excellent detail, superb image. Ron

Great detail, beautiful light and color. Nice pose and I like the blood on the beak.

Beautiful as posted, Ron. Colors, detail, flat footed stance, post are all great. I note that the bird is about dead center in the frame too as is the post. It works fine here. Perhaps its because the post doesn't have any branches like a tree that would make us prefer one side over the other. So, the asymmetry of the bird itself fills up the RHS over the LHS.

A real cutie here Ron.

fabulous light!

A really nice capture, Ron. The large photo really shows off the sharpness - wonderful lighting too.

Another classic, Ron. You might try raiding the local farms and smuggling in some real old posts. I remember Craig Strand tying a more photogenic perch to a post in Ridgefield. I believe the bird used it the next visit.

Lon ..lovely image of a beautiful bird ..looks so innocent but is deadly on the prey. Beautiful comp ..

Balan Vinod

Handsome little dude. The background color is ideal to show off the subject. Excellent techs as usual. These guys are very hard to approach around here and I haven't got any close-ups, yet...

Beautifull light on the bird, love to see the sparkel in its eyes.

Ron,

The frozen water in the background helps the kestrel to stand out very well and the colors are also very complimentary to the gray-blue in the kestrel's plumage. I love the light, the bird's pose, details, colors and sharpness. I especially like the great view of the eye and the bloody bill.

I like your choice of comp too and the weathered character of the post the kestrel perched on.

This is so life like I expect to see a tail flick any moment now :-)

You seem to have lady luck on your side when it comes to Harriers and Kestrels Ron. Real nice detail and light on this one.

I mostly find Kestrels on man made perches but most often I am looking up at them. This is nice because of the level perspective. Good one Ron.

Another fine image, and I like the perch. I agree with Brian's position suggestion.

Very nice detail and it looks like it just finished up a meal from the looks of the beak and claws, way to go.

just superb ...

Very nice capture of what has been my nemesis species for many years. I have absolutely no luck getting in range for a quality image. I also see them on wires the majority of the time. Nice light helped you capture great detail on this striking bird. A different perch would be nice but I'd take it in a heartbeat!

Killer shot. I can never find these guys when they aren't on a power line.

~ja

Ron, as usual, your techs are spot on and excellent! The colors pop off the page. I am a little uncertain about the squarish frame and almost centered comp, but I always have a problem with these typical poses when I am processing them and always uncertain of what looks best. I might have gone with a vertical instead, but still unsure.

Perfect in every aspect.
May

The composition is a bit too cental for me, but otherwise a lovely image, with great detail.