Perigrine Falcon

Gallery: AvianPosted February 6, 2013234 views21 comments

The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in WA has been a nearby and favorite birding site that I have visited for over 40 years. Last year this Perigrine Falcon has been spotted on several occasions perched in trees that overlook field and ponds. He is the first that I have seen up close and apparently is having success hunting and may have made the refuge his home.
I am really fond of this image with his cocked head giving the look of being curious..."is that a camera your using?"

Larger version available, "Thanks for viewing!"

canon 7d
canon 600mm F4L IS USM + 1.4TC
F/9.0 +.67 1/1000 ISO 1000
shot from auto window, beanbag lens rest

Comments

21 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on February 6, 2013 at 1:31 PM

Wonderful image, Craig. I love that head turn.

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

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 6, 2013 at 1:32 PM

Wonderful pose! Nice detail and clean BG.
Hard to tell, but might need a bit of straightening - seems to be listing to the right.

Sandy

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

Comment posted by Keith Bauer on February 6, 2013 at 1:40 PM

Craig: This is REALLY nice. Great pose. Very clean for ISO 1000. Nice work on processing.

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

Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on February 6, 2013 at 2:28 PM

Beautiful image! I love the pose!

Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on February 6, 2013 at 4:34 PM

Very nice pose and perch. If you added the vignette effect I'd reconsider that.

I wish I could get this close to a Peregrine.

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

Comment posted by Simon Bennett on February 6, 2013 at 4:47 PM

I like the quizzical pose.

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on February 6, 2013 at 6:22 PM

Thanks to everyone taking time to leave a comment.
Richard, yes I did add bit of vignette in NIK Color Efex pro. Personally I like how it highlights the main subject, I suppose I could have not used it or toned the effect down. Not all things for all people, thanks I do appreciate your opinion and suggestions.

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on February 6, 2013 at 7:17 PM

Very Nice

...............................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on February 6, 2013 at 8:00 PM

Sweet shot, sweet pose Craig. LP looks excellent!

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on February 6, 2013 at 8:04 PM

Wonderful head position, Craig and I like the way the perch comes out of the corner. Amazing to get this close to a wild peregrine. Personally, I'm not fond of the vignette either.

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

Comment posted by Craig Strand on February 6, 2013 at 8:27 PM

Thanks Howard C. and Ron D.
I was the one that was surprised at how close he was. Metadata shows focus distance at 21.8meters (72ft,) He was perched in a tree at the refuge that is right next to the dirt road and frequently used by eagles and hawks to look down over the luncheon menu. I have seen him there 3 other times and he's always in the same couple of dead tree limbs so many of the shots look the same, but I'm not complaining.
Another vote for NO vignette, I may have to redo this and at least tone the vignette down to almost nothing.

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on February 6, 2013 at 8:58 PM

Looks like a little boy, shyly crossing his "feet". A sweet image, well detailed and well balanced. Did you have a hard time deciding which side of the frame should be closest to the bird?

Looks like you used the darken/lighten template in CEP. It works better in some things than others.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on February 6, 2013 at 10:59 PM

sweet shot, Craig. great pose and nice detail. for me this could use a little more room on the right. I do agree about reducing the vignette--in terms of calling attention to the subject, I just don't think there's a need here--there's nothing else to draw the eye.

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

Comment posted by Ken Archer on February 7, 2013 at 3:42 AM

A Beauty

Love that curious pose. I seen and photographed this bird a few times last winter also, but I didn't get many clean views of him, especially not this nice.

Sweet Photo Craig!!!

Ken Archer

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

Comment posted by Charles Gangas on February 7, 2013 at 8:00 AM

Very neat capture Craig-the head tilt offers a "warm and cuddly" to the image which isn't usually associated with these guys. Great work!

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

Comment posted by Edward Scott on February 7, 2013 at 11:59 AM

Lovely portrait!

Registered on February 8, 2012, 22 Posts, 70 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on February 7, 2013 at 3:57 PM

This image has a lot going for it, beginning with the cute head tilt. But what endears itself to me is the wonderful soft white down on the chest. I can almost feel it. Really a great image, Craig.

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on February 7, 2013 at 7:47 PM

What a great opportunity, pose and image Craig. If you have a little more room on the right in the original I think I would add it.

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

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 9, 2013 at 6:18 AM

Love the quizzical look Craig

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on February 10, 2013 at 5:48 PM

What an innocent pose. TFS.

Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments

Comment posted by Lindy Martin on February 11, 2013 at 6:50 PM

great detail, composition, and colour. Would like to have one of these in my albums!!

Registered on March 10, 2009, 60 Posts, 169 Comments