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In the Shade of a Canary Island Palm


In the Shade of a Canary Island Palm
Photo Information
Copyright: Ivan Kruys (Argus) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-11-19
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 400D, Canon EF 300 f4L + Canon 1.4 converter
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/1000 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): bobair's favorites beyond the alloted amount., Pentaxfriend's favorites 2 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-12-06 5:16
Viewed: 1157
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 74
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
Swedish name: Tornfalk

This is probably the most common species of falcon in the whole of its range: Europe, N. Africa and through the whole of Asia. It occurs as several subspecies, two of which are found in the Canary Islands.

The western Canary Island subspecies is canariensis while this one that occurs on Lanzarote and neighbouring Fuerteventura is dacotiae. The black bars on the back make this one a female. The male has black spots instead that make his back look a more colourful rusty brown.

Kestrels are known for using headwinds that they can utilise to hover while seeking for prey that can be large insects, reptiles and small mammals. This female was using this Canary Palm tree as a look-out post to seek prey that may be a grasshopper, dragonfly or lizard. Kestrels are easily the most common bird of prey in Lanzarote.
The kestrel was quite approachable and I was able to take this from a distance of only about 8 meters (26 ft). After slight cropping and size reduction the image was sharpened.

The image is slightly dappled by shadows that come from the fronds of this Canary Island Date Palm.

The Canary Island Date Palm(Phoenix canariensis) is a large date palm native to the Canary Islands It grows up to 20 m tall but usually does not reach 10 m, with a stout trunk 70-90 cm diameter. The fruit is an oval yellow to orange-brown and is produces in large bunches but the their flesh is too thin to be of any commercial value, not like the related Date palm.
Canary Island Dates are also widely known as the Pineapple Palm. The palm tree is easily recognized through its crown shaft and trunk characteristics. When they are pruned properly, the crown shaft appears to have a pineapple shape. The trunk is very recognizable; diamond shaped ridges cover most of trunk. These ridges, appear as the palm matures, through scarring of old leaves which have fallen off. As the Canary Island Date, matures they gain different characteristics, until they have fully grown to show off a noticeable trunk.[1] Canary Island Date Palm is cultivated in other countries with suitable climates. This slow growing tree is exclusively propagated by seed. Its drought tolerance contributes to its widespread use as a roadside or park landscaping element.
In the Canary Islands, the sap of this date palm is used to make palm syrup. In California, New Zealand and Australia, P. canariensis has proven to be an invasive plant. (Canary Palm info. from Wikipedia)
siggi, Miss_Piggy, zulfu, bobair, ramthakur, maurydv, rousettus, boreocypriensis, eng55, jaycee, marhowie, nglen, eqshannon, Nic-n-Jen_Inc, Pentaxfriend, Gert-Paassen, Alex99, flashpoint, pekkavalo1, CeltickRanger, angela926, Pearl, horia, albert, matatur, cataclysta, Raptorman has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4723] (16252)
  • [2008-12-06 5:18]

Hello Ivan
What a beautiful picture. The color of the Falco is so nice and it is very sharp. You also have a very nice background. TFS.
Best regards Siggi

Hallo Ivan
Wow! This is really stunning, and a most pleasant sight. The rich and warm shades of browns of the Kestrel plumage is very striking. Great focus and sharp details. This photo is of high quality and really outstanding and it is jam packed with awesome detail and features. The simplicity of this image just adds that extra touch to this already beautiful image. Perfectly framed and pleasing to the eye. Thanks for sharing it was a pleasure to look at.
Kind regards
Anna

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2388 W: 94 N: 5521] (17576)
  • [2008-12-06 5:27]

Hello Ivan,
Amazingly beautiful photo of this Tornfalk (Dutch: Torenvalk.)
I'm very glad with this subspecies. It's really something special. I'ver never seen such a good photo of this subspecies.
Very beautiful colours and razor sharp. Excellent pose with the eye-contact. Lovely OOF BG. Thank you.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1057 W: 0 N: 162] (868)
  • [2008-12-06 5:27]

Great shot of this beautiful Kestrel with nice posture Ivan.
TFS and regards,
Mehmet

Hi Ivan,
this sure is a handsome looking bird and taken in very good light.Here where I live we have three different types of falcons and they are merlins,American kestrels and peregrines.These raptors as is this one are all lovely looking creatures and deadly to smaller birds.The canaries where this bird lives need to be very wary as you know most falcons eat birds.The light in this capture gives a light and airy feel to the image and the details are fine and well rendered.Thanks for a warm and beautiful capture as it is cold and dull here where I live now. Bob

You are my neighbour two blocks away today, Ivan.
And I am thrilled to look at this stately Eurasian Kestrel you shot so beautifully in Spain. This single image makes your trip worth its while.
What a fine posture it has adopted to present its best side to be photographed by Ivan!
There is this faint twinkle of arrogance in that sharp, yellow-ringed eye.
Many thanks for sharing this gem and also congratulations for shooting this awesome picture.
Regards.

Hi Ivan,

We have been seeing and also photographing this beautiful bird of prey, this is very much similar to what we see here in India/Bangalore.I have really enjoyed shooting this and gives immense pleasure when you spot one of them.TFS.

Ciao Ivan,
i rapaci sono uccelli affascinanti, fascino che tu trasmetti con una splendida immagine di questo gheppio catturato in una postura che esalta l'intensità e la fierezza dello sguardo, eccellente la nitidezza, bellissimi i colori, molto belli BG e particolare atmosfera di ombre e luci.
TFS. Buon weekend.
Maurizio

merhaba Ivan,
I think you came back from Canarias with full photo-treasure box. I hope we will see more shots from it.
As previous ones, this is also great. and superb capture Kestrel in palm shadow. Great focus and eyes contact, and green BG from palm leaves also very nice. Good notes as always. Thanks for sharing.
Two days later, we will have religious holiday and I will be in my hometown. I will try to visit your posts.
iyi akşamlar dostum.
Ahmet

Hello Ivan,
Pretty good portrait of this Kestrel, which is in fine shape and young. Very pleasing composition and colors, the dappled shadows are adding to the image here, which does not happen always. I also like the intriguing expression of this kestrel. tfs.
nagraj.v

Hi Ivan Dostum,
Excellent capture of this lovely kestrel with wonderful clarity and nice composition.
TFS and have a nice weekend my friend,
Cheers,

Bayram

Ciao Ivan, great capture of beautiful bird with fine details, beautiful colors, perfect focus and excellent sharpness, lovely blurry BG, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1138 W: 32 N: 1161] (3574)
  • [2008-12-06 7:08]

Hi Ivan,
Magnificent capture of this kestrel.POV,details,blurred BG,eye contact and composition are excellent.
Thanks for posting.

Hi Ivan,
This is a very impressive capture! You must be proud of it! Everything is perfect: excellent composition, details and exposure. Patterns on its plumage are wonderful to look at. I wish I have taken this picture myself ;)
Claudine

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-12-06 8:16]

Hi Ivan,

If I was promised a chance to get a shot of a Kestrel like this one I know where I would plan a vacation! He is wonderful as he looks at you with such a wonderful expression on his face. The face, eye, wings and plummage are marvelous. The blurred green leaves of the palm provide a beautiful background. Composition is top-notch.

Jane

Hello Ivan,
Love the light & shadow mix, excellent color and sharp details.
Great BG, pose, POV, and well composed.
Handsome bird - Beautiful shot!
Howard

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2908 W: 34 N: 8625] (32146)
  • [2008-12-06 8:31]
  • [+]

Hi Ivan. Firstly this is heading to my favorites list. Aexcellent picture of this beautiful Kestrel . Your sharp focusing shows every detail in the featehrs with natural colours. with a nice pose on the tree trunk which looks interesting with its torn limbs. Looks good against the plain green BG. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 545 W: 0 N: 735] (3213)
  • [2008-12-06 9:08]

Hi İvan
very nice composition and colors
very good sharp and detail
very well done.

I wonder what this aviary was doing the other 363 days before it stopped and perched just for you? Philosophically ...it gets deeper..but imagery-wise it is perfect of course...I think it would be fun walking along with you and listening...but my guess is that you are thinking and not out loud....you have a method which is almost predictable but always good!
Bob

bonjour ivan
extra!!!!!!!!!!
celle-ci je la met de coté.bravo.
laurent

Hello Ivan,
This is a beautiful photo. Great composition, and DOF. Very well noted too. Nicely done.
TFS,
;-)

Gran trabajo Ivan !!

El realismo es sorprendente en este trabajo. La luz muy bien controlada y me gusta especialmente la zona de la cabeza del ave, tan bien captada u con unos sol y sombra que le favorecen. Preciosa.
Buen fin de semana: Josep Ignasi.

WooW what a BEAUTY Ivan

Excellent POV and eye contact
Perfect sharpness showing AMAZING details
beautifull colors, dof and bg

TFS Thijs

Hi Ivan,

what an great shot of this bird.
Exelent pov and dof.
The Swedish name looks on the Netherlands name!
In the Netherlands we called these bird Torenvalk.

Gert

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5669] (18533)
  • [2008-12-06 11:05]

Hi Ivan.
Once more my heartfelt congratulations with next bird masterpiece. Outstanding in every respect picture. Captured specimen is amazing, pictured scene is superb at whole. Quality of the shot is high end. Lights and light shadows of the bird are charming, sharpness is unbelievable. Composition of the shot is blameless and BG as well as colours of the shot also are fine. Bravo and once more Bravo.
Alexei.

hi Ivan!
great sharpness in this wonderful portrait
I like the pose of rapacious and well focused of feathers in a perfect management of the light...compliments sERGIO

Hi Ivan,
Excellent capture of Kestrel with very good pose, good composition, sharp details, nice warm colours and natural BG.
TFS
Pekka

hello Ivan

aoutch ! what a superb shot of the Eurasian Kestrel,
fine POV and framing, very beautiful luminosity and colour tones,
excellent sharpness and details, but it is that wonderful
eye-contact that he has with you that i love most from your image,

TFS

Asbed

Hello Ivan,
Great shot of this beautiful kestrel, excellent sharpness and depth of field, superb detais in the plummage, nice catchlight, lovely colors and nice blurred green background.
Well done.
Angela

Hello Ivan,
A very good capture of this Canary Islands Kestrel.
Wonderful composition and very good exposure in uneven light conditions.
Great colour and sharpness.
Nice work.
Cheers
Steve

  • Great 
  • Pearl Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 85 W: 25 N: 45] (137)
  • [2008-12-07 1:52]

Hello Ivan,

WOW, this is a very lovely capture of this bird. It is shot with utter care and patience, the pose is excellent, Wonderful crisp details, nice natural tones and colors. I like the composition, POV and your notes a lot. TFS.

Pearl.

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2172 W: 218 N: 4383] (14902)
  • [2008-12-07 2:17]

Hi Ivan

Very very good shot of this beautiful Eurasian Kestrel here! This is definitely one of my favorite birds and you make me happy seeing such a great shot of one.

The details here are simply impeccable and the colors in its plumage are very well retained. You were lucky to get at 8m from it but you did excellent under these circumstances and used your lovely lens and the TC to get this great sharp shot.
Wonderful work and excellent elaborate presentation on both the Kestrel and the palm.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Hello Ivan,
Great light, nice posture with very good eye's contact
Nothing to blaim on this photo, it's just perfect
Well done
Albert

The diffused lighting under the open shade of a palm tree illuminated this fine Kestrel individual perfectly for good macro photography Ivan, the attention of that superbly detailed predator was directly on you or your lens, providing a good eye-to-eye effect. TFS this beautiful image my friend.
Mehmet

Hello Ivan
What a beautiful picture. bravo
TFS
marcin

Hi Ivan
This one is perfect. Razor sharp image with great contrast and perfect OOF background. I like also delicate texture in background Also good diagonal composition Nothing to critique ;-)
TFS
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-12-08 14:59]

A superb shot of this Kestrel!
Very good sharpness.
Great composition.
Well exposed.

Excellent work!

Cheers,
Joe

Hello Ivan,

Splendid capture of this kestrel. Excellent sharpness and clarity. Beautiful composition. Wonderful light and colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Ivan ,
Top class Kestrel photo .
Congratulations .

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