Prairie Falcon

Gallery: AvianPosted December 22, 20118,382 views31 comments

It was a cold and very windy day on the Great Salt Lake this morning and most of the birds were hunkering down so as we headed home I was resigned to being skunked for the day. At the last minute we spotted this falcon defending its duck kill (a Northern Shoveler I believe) from two ravens. I got this one sharp shot as the falcon flew off with the duck. Shortly after a Bald Eagle swooped in and pilfered the duck from the falcon. Yes, I missed those shots...

There's ice/snow crystals on the wing and back of the duck. The OOF blobs in the lower background are whitecaps on the Great Salt Lake.

7D, 1/1600, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, shot from pickup window this morning, exposure adjustment in ACR, cropped to 50% of original image, sharpened both birds, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light, not baited, set up or called in

Larger version provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

31 comments

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on December 22, 2011 at 6:36 PM

Ron: Wow!! what a great capture. Exposure looks great on the falcon. Amazing action. What a way to end the day!

Registered on November 20, 2003, 458 Posts, 4836 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on December 22, 2011 at 7:17 PM

I wouldn't care how many shots I missed if I got one like this, Ron! no need to enumerate everything that's right about this. I love it all and would be thrilled to have anything like this.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on December 22, 2011 at 7:24 PM

Wow - a definite jaw-dropper! I can't imagine the rush this must have been to see and capture.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on December 22, 2011 at 7:29 PM

Excellent Ron, neat capture to pocket for the ride home!

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

Comment posted by Verdon on December 22, 2011 at 7:52 PM

three thumbs up, great action shot with nice detail~~~

Registered on June 10, 2011, 147 Posts, 1444 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on December 22, 2011 at 7:53 PM

Nice, Ron. Looks like you salvaged the day beautifully. Excellent flight shot and natural history.

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

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on December 22, 2011 at 9:08 PM

Just spectacular! What an outstanding capture. I love it!

Ray

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

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on December 22, 2011 at 9:13 PM

Unbelievable - this is a notch above my gyrfalcon w/prey shot. Even at 50% detail is wonderful, exposure is great and the gradient in the back is killer. Fantastic end to this season

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on December 22, 2011 at 9:15 PM

Ron,
Too bad about missing the Bald Eagle shots but you were seriously rewarded with this terrific image. Very sharp, great wing position, and catch light in the eyes. Prey is a bonus. Merry Christmas to you Ron.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on December 22, 2011 at 9:38 PM

Coincidentally, I was just admiring your gallery today, Ron. Chalk up another great bird of prey shot. Really fine detail and a great pose... not bad for the only one that turned out!

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on December 22, 2011 at 9:42 PM

Way to cool (in more ways than one), excellent flight shot with the duck and the wing positions of the falcon, very nice detail on the larger version, well done Ron.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Teller on December 22, 2011 at 10:22 PM

Ron, great shot. I love the action, the clarity and detail.

Registered on August 23, 2010, 1162 Posts, 6692 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on December 22, 2011 at 10:41 PM

Yikes - gorgeous! Ended up being a great day! Incredible image...
The tiniest of nits - seems to need a touch of CCW rotation - as is, the falcon seems to be off-level a bit -

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on December 22, 2011 at 10:47 PM

Thanks Sandy. The falcon was "off - level a bit" due to the load it's hauling. I rotated to level the horizon.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Suzanne Huot on December 22, 2011 at 10:57 PM

Not only a superb capture ,but awesome detail of both the Falcon and his catch.Too bad the Eagle grabbed it from him.Great image.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 32 Posts, 240 Comments

Comment posted by Angela McCain on December 22, 2011 at 11:15 PM

Simply amazing. Excellent exposure detail and subject.

Registered on April 19, 2009, 367 Posts, 3589 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on December 22, 2011 at 11:23 PM

This might be the best photo you've posted here, Ron. Superb.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Rohn B. McKee on December 22, 2011 at 11:38 PM

Wonderful Ron,
I saw that bird on my way out today. Beautiful

Registered on November 18, 2008, 109 Posts, 415 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on December 23, 2011 at 12:10 AM

You must have been excited about this one on your camera monitor when you first reviewed the series! Congrats!

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

Comment posted by David Williams on December 23, 2011 at 12:52 AM

Fantastic capture, Ron........and what a story! That must have really been something to watch the whole thing pan out....way to go!

Registered on March 8, 2005, 315 Posts, 2291 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on December 23, 2011 at 9:58 AM

Wonderful capture and story...sorry you missed the eagle shots, but it looks like this was your gift for the day! Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Butch Lama on December 23, 2011 at 10:59 AM

Wow wow wow... Mind blowing & stunning shot with great details.

Registered on July 23, 2010, 42 Posts, 316 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Archer on December 23, 2011 at 2:23 PM

Can't think of a better way not to get skunked. A difficult bird just to get a photo of, much less in flight with prey (at least for me that is). Awesome Photo Ron

Ken Archer

Registered on October 28, 2004, 222 Posts, 6683 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on December 23, 2011 at 3:01 PM

As good as it gets Ron! No words for this shot. I know you have been after this bird for a bit. Big congrats on this one.

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

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on December 23, 2011 at 3:19 PM

Nice to be in the right place at the right time, Ron. Well done.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Terry Sohl on December 24, 2011 at 12:01 PM

This is so cool! What a terrific opportunity and shot!!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 513 Posts, 6889 Comments

Comment posted by William Bickle on December 24, 2011 at 12:36 PM

Hello Ron

A real pleasing image. Great response to capture this fleeting guy!

TFS

Bill

Registered on June 13, 2011, 183 Posts, 1702 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Bunch on December 26, 2011 at 7:47 PM

Wow!! That's all I can say.

Registered on May 18, 2004, 124 Posts, 2503 Comments

Comment posted by Neal Cooper on December 27, 2011 at 11:34 AM

Stunning image Ron. You got this one 100% right. Very powerful image. Well done.

Registered on June 3, 2009, 144 Posts, 306 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on December 27, 2011 at 1:53 PM

Super cool Ron It's all good!

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on December 28, 2011 at 12:17 AM

I was afraid to look, but I looked anyway and it was painfully excellent. Geez, Ron. Knock it off already.

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