falcon

Prairie Falcon with a Northern Shoveler as prey (Graphic)

By Mia McPherson, on November 11th, 2012%

Prairie Falcon fly by after attacking the Northern Shoveler

Earlier this morning I spotted a Prairie Falcon perched on a rock while on the Antelope Island Causeway, before we could get stopped and into position to photograph the falcon it took off over the water and attacked a Northern Shoveler. The duck was floundering in the water and the Prairie Falcon flew over and past it when I took this image.

Another flyby – Prairie Falcon

The Prairie Falcon made several passes up and down the shoreline, landing, then taking off again. The waves pushed the dying Northern Shoveler closer and closer to the shore.

Prairie Falcon with Northern Shoveler at the edge of the Great Salt Lake

When the duck reached the shoreline the falcon showed a bit of hesitation about going over to it and after a bit the bird flew over to the Shoveler which was still part way in the water.

Prairie Falcon tearing into the neck of the Northern Shoveler

The Prairie Falcon tore into the neck of the duck at this point even while the waves rocked the duck and the falcon gently back and forth.

Prairie Falcon moving the Northern Shoveler from the water 1

The the falcon gripped the duck with its talons, I wasn’t sure if it was going to fly away with its prey or just bring it on to the shore.

Prairie Falcon moving the Northern Shoveler from the water 2

The Prairie Falcon seemed to struggle a bit with the weight of the Shoveler which can weigh up to 1.3 pounds (375 grams).

Prairie Falcon moving the Northern Shoveler from the water 3

The falcon used its wings and its free foot to move the duck.

Prairie Falcon moving the Northern Shoveler from the water 4

It seemed determined to move it away from the water.

Prairie Falcon moving the Northern Shoveler from the water 5

I really liked this pose and the great eye contact the raptor was giving me.

Prairie Falcon moving the Northern Shoveler from the water 6

The falcon continued to drag the duck to drier ground.

Prairie Falcon with Northern Shoveler on the shore

It finally made it! The small waves were not reaching this section of the shoreline. I like how this shows the yellow feet, the dark tips of the talons and the yellow cere of this adult Prairie Falcon.

Prairie Falcon devouring the Northern Shoveler

The falcon wasted no time and tore into the breast of the Northern Shoveler and feathers were flying as it did. I wish that the bird had been closer but if it had been it might not have stuck around to eat its prey in front of us. The light began to fade as another cloud came in from the west, it was snowing (again) to the south and west.

Prairie Falcon with a pile of feathers from the Northern Shoveler

The falcon really chowed down on the Shoveler as we watched and photographed. When we left because the light was leaving us the handsome raptor was still there and still eating the duck.

I have to tell you it feels totally awesome to watch a falcon attack, bring in and eat the prey it caught naturally. These birds are simply amazing.

All of these images were taken with my Nikon D300 and Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC lens resting on my noodle. The Prairie Falcon wasn’t baited, it supplied its own food.

Mia

(I took a boat load of images of this falcon, these were just a few that I liked)

American Kestrel Male

By Mia McPherson, on July 20th, 2011%

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) on a snowy perch

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) on a snowy perch
Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/640, ISO 400, +1.0, Nikkor 200-400mm with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

The American Kestrel is our smallest falcon in North America but what they lack in size I feel they make up for in attitude.

This bird was perched on dried vegetation on Antelope Island State Park this past winter, there had been a light snow overnight and some of the snow was still sticking to the branches of the sagebrush. Because of the blue sky in the background I had to raise my EV to +1.0 so that the bird would not appear too dark. I’d rather get the exposure right in the camera than to try to raise the dark tones in post processing because that can introduce unnecessary noise.

Mia

More American Kestrel images

Argh.. don’t turn!!

By Mia McPherson, on April 14th, 2011%

Male American Kestrel in flight with a vole

Male American Kestrel in flight with a vole
Davis County, Utah
Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited, not a set up

In February I wrote a tongue in cheek and slightly serious article titled “So ya think ya want to be a bird photographer?” that explained some of the joys and pitfalls of being a bird photographer and since I wrote that I find myself coming up with new things I would/should add to that article. Maybe sometime in the future I will simply rewrite it to add all my additonal thoughts on the subject.

Yesterday I came across another thing I should add to that post.

Imagine that you come across a male American Kestrel perched on a post with a vole and that you would love to get some images of the little falcon eating the prey. So you drive slowly up to the bird, lens out the window after checking your settings to make sure you have the right depth of field, exposure and shutter speed. You are ready so you creep the vehicle up just a tiny bit closer while holding your breath that the bird doesn’t fly away.

You look through the viewfinder, compose your shot and lock in focus as your finger presses the shutter button halfway down.

You release your breath, relax and start to take images when out of your peripheral vision you see another vehicle at the T intersection of the road, in your mind and quietly outload you mutter “don’t turn, don’t turn, please don’t turn!” because you know the chances are that the vehicle will head your way and startle the bird.

There are times this happens after you have been on the bird for a long time waiting for wonderful action, the best light or for a lift off photo, you’ve had time to check your techs and are sitting there watching the minutes quietly ticking away or; as it happened yesterday, just long enough to get ready to take your shots.

I was fairly certain that the oncoming vehicle would cause the bird to lift off and he did. I mentally prepared myself; in mere tenths of a second, to try for the lift off shots to come.

As the vehicle passed by the kestrel did indeed take flight with his breakfast in his talons. I was able to get three shots off with the bird in the frame and one when the bird had nearly left it, two of those images had the bird’s wings clipped (delete bin), one was a blur (delete bin) and the image above where I had the whole bird, the prey and light in the eye. I got one shot I am happy with.

Yes, the frustrations of being a bird photographer… but I still love being one.

Mia

More American Kestrel images