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Project Noah Nature School
Falco sparverius
This wet-from-the-rain Kestrel was sitting on a refuge sign and let me drive right up to it for this picture. These falcons will fly directly from a perch to catch prey or may hover over an open field in search of voles or mice, then dive to catch the prey.
Mostly open fields and grasslands.
Spotted on Mar 17, 2011
Submitted on Sep 17, 2011
56 Comments (1–25)
Wow
Wow great shot
AshleyT, I actually tried to think of the comment in some other context but I did not take into consideration the possibility of micaela2 being a younger person with no negative intent. If that's the case, I apologize for my wrong assumptions and for my reply to the comment. Thanks for your comment, AshleyT.
Hey Dennis, take into consideration this was likely a young user. And instead of assuming they are criticizing your photo by calling "soft", try thinking they are likely calling the bird itself soft. And that is in no way criticizing your photo. Your lovely photo shows off the details very well and does indeed make this bird look very soft. Lots of young users on this site and they usually mean no harm whatsoever.
Thank you, martina1, kimberlycameron12, sofit1, HazelMarley, and Joshua Asel, for the nice comments.
As for micaela2's comment, it's too bad you have nothing better to do than to criticize my photos. Did you make the same comment on all the other 'soft' photos on project noah? Pathetic.
Cute
What a beautiful portrait. I can't believe he let you drive right up to them. Usually with something like that I suspect human imprinting. Really nice tanks for sharing :)
Thanks everyone for the kind words on my shot of the Kestrel! They are amazing birds and this one could very likely be a youngster. In my experience photographing birds, youngsters tend not to be as afraid of humans getting close as are mature birds. I guess their natural 'caution' instinct takes a while to kick in. It's been a couple years since this shot and I have not had a close up opportunity like it since. Thanks, too, to all the folks who have favorited the shot!
It is so beautiful!!
Looks like a young one? thank you for sharing, Dennis Davenport
He is sooooooo CUTE!
He is SOOOOOOO CUTE!
What an amazing spotting! Stonishing shot!
so cute!!!
Stunning..
One of my most favorite birds! I didn't know they live in Washington. I hope I get to see this beautiful bird with my own eyes someday!
What a beauty ! - he doesn't look like a raptor from this angle, does he?
great details !!
Thank you everyone for the nice comments!
Fantastic photo!
Beautiful American kestrel and picture Dennis; very cute =)
Fantastic!!
Beautiful :)
How beautiful! They have very unique, distinct vocalizations.
Cute pic!
Wow! Awesome job!