American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge, Ridgefield, Washington, USA
Kestrels are typically very skittish when cars approach them on the refuge. They typically perch on the signs and fly off well before you can get a shot off…this guy seemed to be unafraid of my approach. I could not have been more than 15 feet from him/her. Would love to get a shot with a more natural perch…but you get what you can.
Specific Feedback Requested
An comments appreciated.
Technical Details
Is this a composite: No
Fujifilm GFX 100, 250mm + 1.4, 1/100 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 100, hand held.
Good job on this guy, David. I agree that the exposure boost helped. I think this is the third winter this one’s been hanging out there. At least there’s been a very cooperative one the last couple of winters.
Thanks Dennis. There were two Kestrels there on Saturday. Both kind of cooperative, but both perched on those darn signs. I think I’ll head back there this Saturday for another run. The water levels are pretty good and quite a bit of activity. Only one Red-Tailed Hawk and no Bald Eagles, but hey…
The increased exposure helps. Excellent detail and colors; you caught the beauty of these birds. They must like these signs; I think I have a similar shot from a refuge in California. How come predatory birds are more skittish than non-predatory birds???
Beautiful catch here David. I believe we have them out East here, but have never seen one close up. Detail and colors are very pleasing. May I share this with our local National Wildlife Refuge staff, credited to you of course! They’d get a kick out of seeing the kestrel on the sign.
Jim