3 Views of Kestrel

[Loupey]

Really weird weather here. 50 degrees and rainy Thursday, brilliant blue sky and low 40's on Friday, and now low 30's with near white-out snow squawls with periods of blue and white skies.

Some more kestrel shots during the day today. I know I'm overdoing it but it's difficult to chase common birds when I know where the kestrels and hawks can be had. Just having one heck of a difficult time trying to photograph the backs of these wonderfully colorful creatures. Eventually I'll get it - I hope.

Can't wait for spring to arrive. I saw 3 red-winged blackbirds yesterday

As always, thanks for looking.

[payn817]

I love 2 & 3. IMO it's the best you've caught of the creature so far.

We have the redwings starting to show here too, I'm ready for some dragonflies, readyt to give this macro some serious attempts.

[paulnj]

That first image is simply amazing to me!

[Jaedon]

Wow Loupey....just Wow. Don't stop shooting these guys ust because of some precieved notion that you are boring us. With each shot in passing you continue to out do yourself,

#1 is awesome for the fact that somwhow through the snow squall you managed to get perfect focus. #2 looks like something straight out of a nature magazine and #3 is by far the best in flight shot you have taken of these little guys to date. Keep it up man.

There's a reason why you're the moderator around these here parts ya know...... and every time I see images like this it inspires me to do better,

Jay

[Loupey]

Thanks, guys! I think we all will be thoroughly ready for spring to arrive

Jay, thank you immensely for your kind comments. I enjoy being here and I'm very happy to be of help

[Knight]

Superb Captures Loupey , the one with the Kestrel in the wind is Awsome

[bsquared]

Great shots Loupey. Where are you catching these guys? They've been eluding me.

[julsoph]

I love love love the one in the wind and snow...that's awesome.

Emily

[Loupey]

Knight - thanks for responding while you're on vacation! Enjoy yourselves and stay safe.

bsquared - I've been watching at least 2 pairs in a stretch of 2 miles of open fields. I've found two stands of trees that they seem partial to frequent. And I found 2 particular trees which they tend to perch on if no one (people) are around (weekday). The trick is getting close enough. They bolt almost immediately and I have to use every bit of 600mm (300mm with 2x converter) to even have a chance. The best method is to park my truck with them on my passenger side, sneak out the driver's side door, pop up from behind the bed of my truck, and get 1 to 3 shots before they take off and hope they'll fly in circles watching me before they leave the area. If they don't immediately fly away, I walk up as close as possible and repeat the previous step.

Now that I know how small they are, I see them all over the place.

Emily - thank you very much. I must say that that image was one of those rare instances when all the elements all fall into place at the right time and place. I was fortunate that this one angle which provided the soft OOF background of trees was precisely 90-degrees to the wind which kept the snow from filling the front of my lens. Thanks again!