Kestrel w/dragonfly meal

Gallery: AvianPosted October 5, 2011615 views14 comments

D300s
600mm + 1.4 tc = 850mm
1/1600
ISO 650
F/6.3
A/Priority
Center Weighted Avg.
White Bal. sunny
Distance 39.80 meters
Tripod W/Wimberly head
Raw
Cropped about 25%

This is the same perch as my last kestrel image. Not a terrific perch for sure but I knew exactly where to focus every time she left to hunt dragonflies which made getting these images pretty simple. There were kestrels on other stick ups that had multiple landing spots and I never knew where to focus. These kestrels are extremely adept at snagging dragonflies right out of the air. Very fun to watch. They would frequently come back with two flies, one in each claw. It seems to me that the D. flies must have been mating for the kestrels to get two like that. Anyway, I hope you like this image as much as I do. I really like the wing spread and the focused look. Not thrilled with the perch but, oh well. Let me know what I can do to improve upon this. Larger version provided for critique. Thanks for looking.

Comments

14 comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on October 5, 2011 at 2:04 AM

I also like the spread wings and the landing. I gotta get up there. Very nice.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on October 5, 2011 at 2:50 AM

SWEET!!! Wonderful pose and sharpness. Excellent prey and good perch.
Just awesome!

Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on October 5, 2011 at 3:33 AM

Fabulous shot David, excellently timed!

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on October 5, 2011 at 3:41 AM

Wonderful pose, especially the spread wings and tail, and eye contact. I like the perch too.

Registered on February 4, 2007, 350 Posts, 4614 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 5, 2011 at 6:31 AM

David, there is nothing wrong with the perch IMO. A great shot with nice sharpness. Love the bird's position with wings out and flared tail. Very well done.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on October 5, 2011 at 8:14 AM

Really nice look at the under side of this kestrel. The perch is not an issue IMO. Very nice work David.

Registered on August 12, 2009, 544 Posts, 2414 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 5, 2011 at 9:51 AM

Great pose and eye contact, David. I don't know if it's the processing or what, but I'm not seeing the fine feather detail I would expect in the larger image.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 5, 2011 at 9:54 AM

Love this - what a great opportunity for you!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by John Blumenkamp on October 5, 2011 at 5:10 PM

Outstanding!

Registered on February 26, 2011, 58 Posts, 313 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on October 5, 2011 at 5:52 PM

Another excellent kestrel image David. Nice to have them where you want them, even nicer to capitalize on the opportunity.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on October 5, 2011 at 7:04 PM

Awesome wing spread, David. I think the perch is just fine. Very cool that you captured it with prey. Very nice image.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 5, 2011 at 9:38 PM

Wonderful catch David, detail is outstanding. Excellent work.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on October 5, 2011 at 11:56 PM

This is a marvelous moment well captured, and too me the perch is perfectly OK.

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on October 9, 2011 at 12:39 AM

Wow, love the spread wings and the catch is a nice bonus. The perch is fine, much better than the fenceposts and wires you often see them on, congrats David!

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments