Copyright © 2017 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
The American Kestrel is the littlest Falcon in North America and the most colorful. They’re quite fierce for the size. They often perch on wires, or poles to watch and wait for unsuspecting prey. ” Hunting for insects and other small prey in open territory, kestrels perch on wires or poles, or hover facing into the wind, flapping and adjusting their long tails to stay in place.”~AllAboutBirds.com
Gordon and I stopped at San Luis National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday morning before joining a Meet-Up group we’re in at another National Wildlife Refuge and while on the auto route where the Tulle Elk are we spotted this Kestrel on a post. It was just after a heavy rain storm so there was Tulle Fog all over the valley hence the white sky. I love the rain drops or dew drops on his breast feathers.
We didn’t see any Tulle Elk in the paddock. Not one! They must have been deep in the trees until it warmed up. Thankfully for us this Kestrel was out and about looking for breakfast!
Nikon D700|Nikkor 200-500mm @ 460mm| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2017
More to come…
Circadianreflections Blog 
What a great photo!
Thank you so much Lynn! xx
This little guy is a beautiful bird of prey. You captured a fantastic picture, Deborah.
Thank you so much Robin!
I had no idea how attractive a kestrel would be, Deborah! Thanks for sharing the details in the feathers. 🙂
Aren’t they beautiful? Thank you so much Robin!
He’s a beauty! He looks so innocent compared to his fierce reputation 🙂
Thanks Joanne! Those big eyes make them look so innocent I think.
I was thinking it was more his chubby little body 🙂
🙂
That was a great shot, Deborah! I have a few similar ones but I like the look on its face that you got (the eye make it look so innocent). Since I am so new to birding I appreciate seeing the name of the birds we saw as I don’t always remember it and I like learning about them (didn’t know it was a falcon but it looks like one).
Thank you so much Gordon! I had to do a bit of dodging to open up the shadows on it’s face, and eye since it wasn’t the best light.
The shadow on the face was a bit on my shots too.
I love all the birds of prey. We have several Osprey’s here that I have been trying to catch on camera. I need a 200 to 500X (See what you are doing?) Beautiful shot.
🙂 Sounds like you’ve caught the birding bug too!
The Osprey is a neat bird. I love seeing those too. Living so close to the water you probably have great ops to see and photograph them and many other birds!
Thank you!
True. I do a lot with Herons.
A beautiful little raptor and capture!
Thank you so much Denise!
He’s a pretty little thing. I like how he looks on the post. Great photo!
Thank you so much Dan!
This is the nicest kestrel photos I’ve seen. I love how the foggy sky sets off his colors.
Great sighting and capture, Deborah! They are adorable little falcons, but I wouldn’t want to tangle with one! I’ve seen one in action and boy, they are fierce! 😉
Thank you so much Donna!
What a beautiful little fellow and equally well captured. Well done, Deborah 🙂
Thank you so much Phil!