american kestrel

This young female American Kestrel let me creep in closer and closer while perching yesterday. The river bed has seen an increase in raptor activity lately which I love. :)

An American Kestrel mating pair in early spring on the Mojave River

A female Kestrel in search of....

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius sparverius) female.

Watching as we go by

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius sparverius)

American Kestrel zooming in to the top of a lamp post in a parking lot. Kestrel's are such a pretty bird, so many colors and patterns. This one is pretty skittish, so it is difficult to get too close for a good picture. Cropped down to 3MP (2.8x crop factor), or 1400mm equivalent.

American Kestrel white morph male

Seen flying over couple of times then found its perch

Pole dancing American kestrel

High wire act.

This bird is also know as 'Sparrow Hawk'.

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius sparverius) Male.

Must be their favorite area to perch

Went out to the Market Common area where I always find these guys and 100% of the time there will be one on this dead tree bottom.

This little guy was very active and successful. I watched him catch two birds and chow down on both of them. Feathers were flying. I hadn't seen one of these for weeks. It was good to see them again.

I love this bird. I followed this one around for a bit, but could not get a clear shot. Finally made the best of this view. There were branches between us from every angle. Also, very cool to see, but wish I could have captured it. While I was fumbling with my focus, another kestrel knocked...

I am guessing this is the same little guy I snagged previously. Conditions were slightly better this time, but still very gray. No wind, to speak of, so that was better. Watched him for awhile. I would like to be a falconer, just for the fun of having one of these guys perched on my finger.

Photogenic kestrel on a 30mph windy day. Eagle Marsh in Allen County, Indiana.

My hubbie got this one from the car window. I'd been trying to get a decent shot of him for some time now but he's always been on the other side of the car and he flies away if the car door opens.

I took a longer way home to go through an area that I usually see these guys and there it was just waiting for me on its favorite perch ;)

i've learned to park myself in front of this very tall dead stump. This way I stay fairly warm and get a good view going unnoticed. Hopefully anyway ;)

And they are forecasting sunshine for the next week ;)