Kestrel take-off

Just at the initial stages of a project to photograph the local kestrel which I think is a young male. It's been hanging around the old steadings close to the house for a while now and so I've started to put out bait underneath a favourite perching spot. When it landed today today, I crept out to try to get some shots as it's fairly tolerant if I'm near the house. It was too small in the frame as a portrait but I managed to get one sharp shot as it took off.

Canon 1DMkIII, Canon 500mm + 2x, ISO800

Nice start Mark
Yes - young male.
(Roy found mincemeat really got 'em going ! if you can keep the maggies off.! )
Cheers
JohnR

That's a real Mediterranean sky for you! I love the wing and tail spread. I hope you manage to coax him onto a natural perch soon.

Nice capture bearing in mind you were using a 2x....

Thats very nice, often see them on the roofs of farm buildings down here... might just crop a little from the bottom and right hand side for presentation here...

All the best

I would certainly move the subject down and to the right as Phil mentions, but I do like the wings and tail spread out like that. Nice action shot and a different view to the usual hovering or perched shots that we see.
Eric

Very nice Mark, do like the spread wings and tail feathers. Agree about the crop suggestions and looking forward to more as the project develops

Awesome shot Mark especially with that Blue sky

Hi Mark, great start to your project. Now need to capture him on to a more natural looking perch - keep us posted. Cliff