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American Kestrel


Posted by Ken Newcombe on Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:53 pm

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I spotted a Kestrel I had been working every few days over the last two weeks eating a vole on the ground in short grass. This is unusual as in the past it would always take the catch to the top of a telephone pole or tree limb. I worked around it until the sun was directly behind me and started a slow approach from 100 feet away. Finally I was able to belly crawl the last 40 feet or so until I was within 20 feet. The bird paid me little attention and took the Vole apart bit by bit. Only when it was completely consumed did it fly to a nearby tree. My EXIF data indicates it took the bird 22 minutes to consume the Vole. This is one of the tamer images, a bit of Vole is just visible. Croped from Horizontal.



20D
500mm
1/1250 sec, f/6.3
Metering: Evaluative
ISO: 200
AF mode: AI Servo AF
Flash Off

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by Jim Zipp on Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:56 pm
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Hey Ken, not often you can get that close to a kestrel! Nice job.
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by whf4 on Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:58 pm
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Hey, that's close!

Pretty amazing!
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by RichardMittleman/Gon2Foto on Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:04 pm
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Very nice. My only very minor nit is that the tip of the beak gets a little lost in the dark feathers of the neck
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by Alan Murphy on Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:05 pm
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Awesome shot Ken. The low angle, BG and detail are great.
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by Anthony Medici on Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:08 pm
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I can see I'm not posting a Kestrel anytime in the near future...

This is very nice. Richard is right about the angle of the head on this one but it's only a minor nit. And if you have others, and it sounds like you do, that is of little concern.

Nice work.
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by Ofer Levy on Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:19 pm
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Great shot!!! :shock: I wish there was more room at the bottom
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by Bob Ettinger on Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:34 pm
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WOW, great job.
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by Jim Urbach on Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:44 pm
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Ken, Great approach and wonderful image.

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by JonB on Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:13 pm
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Fantastic shot, Ken.

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by BrianS on Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:29 pm
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Cool to get that close -- love it.
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by Cliff Beittel on Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:15 pm
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RichardMittleman/Gon2Foto wrote:Very nice. My only very minor nit is that the tip of the beak gets a little lost in the dark feathers of the neck
Same here, and you could probably brighten the area behind the bill in the unlikely case you don't have a similar with head turned left or right. Either way, a lovely shot. I can't imagine getting this close to a Kestrel without a car or blind.
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by Chris Kayler on Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:45 pm
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Wow. Awesome shot Ken, great job getting so close.
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by E.J. Peiker on Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:13 pm
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Another awesome Kestrel shot - fantastic!!!
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by Sidamo on Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:14 pm
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Now that I know someone has done it, there may one day be a chance for me too.
Very skittish bird. Perhaps they let down their guards to eat.
Nicest shot of a kestrel I've seen.
 

by Ken Newcombe on Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:28 pm
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John Pelafigue wrote:Now that I know someone has done it, there may one day be a chance for me too.
Very skittish bird. Perhaps they let down their guards to eat.
Nicest shot of a kestrel I've seen.
Most raptors will allow much closer approaches when on a kill. They are willing to take a chance for the sake of the meal. In addition the bird has gotten used to me over two weeks. On some days I did not shoot but allowed the bird to see me in the field at 50 yards distance.
 

by christoforos on Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:07 pm
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Wow Ken this is awesome!
I'm so jealous...
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by moose henderson on Wed Dec 22, 2004 12:08 am
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nice job, great tracking skills
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by Juli Wilcox on Thu Dec 23, 2004 5:13 am
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Great detail and opportunity to shoot. Totally admirable work. If you got more of the prey, etc. you will have an potentially unbeatable natural history fine art print.
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by Kim Steininger on Thu Dec 23, 2004 1:04 pm
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Wow, this is so awesome Ken!!! I love everything about it!!! :D :D :D
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