Peregrine Falcon in flight in front of a sandstone cliff face

Adult Peregrine Falcon in flight with a sandstone background – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

You just never know what birds you will find until you get out into the field, whether that is close to home or on a trip further away. I’m in southern Utah now and yesterday what I didn’t expect to find, I did.

I was looking for birds in a marshy area in Wayne County and photographed some ducks lifting off from a small pond, there were Northern Pintails, Mallards, Green-winged and Cinnamon Teals and few American Wigeons mixed in. I had hoped they would settle back onto the same pond but they didn’t. Not much further down the road a shape on a fence post caught my eye and I knew without any doubt that I was seeing a falcon! When I brought my lens up and focused on the bird I could tell it was a Peregrine.

I was able to get a nice series of the falcon perched on the fence post. The falcon must have been watching the ducks feeding on the pond and may have been scoping them out hoping to catch one for dinner. But then it took off and I was able to photograph this Peregrine Falcon in flight in front of a brightly colored sandstone cliff face with the light of the setting sun on it. I was delighted.

Sandstone Cliff Face, Wayne County, Utah- Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited

I was only able to get two sharp images of the Peregrine Falcon after it took off from its perch and then I lost focus on the bird and my camera focused on the cliff face instead. So by error I am able to share an image of the cliff face that was behind the falcon when I photographed it and it also shows the very out of focus falcon in the upper right hand of the frame.

I hope to find more birds to share from southern Utah.

Life is good. 🙂

Mia

Click here to see more of my Peregrine Falcon photos plus facts and information about this species.