©2019 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This image was made earlier this year when I went birding with friends to a favorite Wildlife Refuge. The American Kestrel that is usually there is such a tease!
It lands on a post and poses oh so perfect for you to see it and get your camera/lens ready then you creep up in your car ever. so. slowly- cause it’s an auto route only mind you. Trying not to crunch the gravel too loudly because you know this guy or gal is a tease and will fly to the next the post or the one beyond it at the slightest sound of a car approaching.
…And the car was too loud and his eyesight too keen so he flew from the perfect old stump which was much closer to the obscurity of the branches of a tree quite a way away! The brat! This image is cropped in because he was too far away for my 200-500mm lens. Sigh. Still, I love the highlight in its eye and that look of smug haha you can’t see me now pose.
This bird and the Kite are my favorites of all the Falcons/hawks. The Kestrel is the smallest of the raptors and the most colorful in North America. I’m sure I’ve shared that before and hope you don’t mind being told again. They’re quite common here so their facts can slip by unnoticed quite like the Mallard I think.
I’m getting away from it all and going birding with friends this week to two favorite wildlife refuges. I’m so looking forward to that! I hope you too have something to look forward to that brings you joy this week.
Nikon D810| Nikkor 200-500mm| Hoodman STEEL Digital Film| PSCC 2019
more to come…
Circadianreflections Blog 
Great capture! I love Kestrels … they are so pretty. I had a shoot with a captive at a refuge years ago and was able to get nice and close.
Sorry I missed the birth of your newest grand! Happy for everyone involved that everything went okay! and Congrats to everyone:) I laughed about your story creeping over the gravel – we city people have lost so much of the sensitivity of our forefathers had (of course, we have more auditory stimuli 24/7). Have a great trip with your friends:)
Lovely photo, Deborah! 😊 Were you able to go birding with your friends? Sounds like a fun adventure! 🐦🐦🐦
Thank you so much Jill! Yes, I was. It was a fun day!
Gorgeous! Thanks for bringing us this joy!
Thank you for stopping by to visit my blog! I know you’ve been very busy.
I’m looking forward to seeing the cookbook when it’s finished.
Thanks so much!
It is so tough to get a good shot of birds of prey. You did very well! Enjoy birding this week. Looking forward to your photos!
Thank you so much Jennie! It was a fun day of birding.
You’re welcome, Deborah. 😀
What a lovely kestrel, Deborah. You certainly deserve this hard earned getaway. I hope you have a great time. Hugs on the wing!
Thank you so much Teagan! I hope you’re having a lovely week-end! Hugs!
The cardinals around here are like that. Always waiting for you to get your camera ready and then racing off before you can capture them!! Great capture Deborah! 🙂
Oh, you have Cardinals!! I really hope I get to see one and if I’m really lucky get a photo of one in my lifetime just once!
I’ll keep good thoughts for you to get the shot! 😃
I hope you get a chance to capture one! There are tons around here and that don’t fly south in the winter so they become even more noticeable then.
I’ll have to put your new state on my bucket list just to see Cardinals. 🙂
This is still a great photo, Deborah, despite the challenge of the capture. I love the back story. I have a lot of joy in my days and my weeks. Thank you for sharing yours.
Thank you so much Erica! I’m so glad you have a lot of joy in your life!
Enjoy your time away.. such a peaceful photo of your new Grandson. Needs framing
Oh Thank you so much Pauline! Baby Girl said the same thing about the photo of our littlest.
I’m envious. I hope you have a peaceful adventure and look forward to seeing the photos!
Thank you so much Cheryl! If only I’d get an image of an Osprey with a fish like you shared today…I’m envious!
Ha! So many wonderful moments like that when we lived in Florida. I’m glad you liked it!
Definitely worth the time it takes to get these shots! We don’t see a lot of them, but we do see them. I have never even attempted to click one with an iPhone 😉 You do right by the Kestrel!
Thank you so much Joey!
Nice capture, Deborah, they are a beautiful, adorable bird, they sure don’t look like a raptor, lol. But I’ve seen them in action….whoa….fierce little birds! Happy shooting at the refuges this week! 📷 🐦 😊
Thank you so much Donna!
Beautiful capture, Deborah
Thank you so much Robert!
I’m hoping we get to see some good variety of birds and maybe that elusive fox!
I hope so too! A fox would be amazing!!
Super photo and great story. I love raptors too.
Thank you so much John!
Great capture, Deborah and I enjoyed the story of the “hunt”
Thank you so much Dan! The hunt or the chase. They’re so maddening at times cause you’re just so close then pooof they fly!
I think they know 😉
You’re right they do!
Oh but I adore that babe!!❤️
I really like birds of prey, so I always enjoy your shots of them. I’m looking forward to having Thurs-Sat off and also to seeing your photos when you get back. 🙂 Have a blast!
janet
Thank you so much Janet! Enjoy your 3 days off!