Common Kestrel

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Common Kestrel
Photo Information
Copyright: Pekka Valo (pekkavalo1) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 241 W: 21 N: 861] (2657)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Sigma EX 500mm f4.5 APO HSM, RAW ISO 800, Kenko Teleplus Pro 300 DG 1.4x
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/640 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Falcons - II chapter, CeltickRanger's favorite Bird of Prey photos [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-25 1:16
Viewed: 494
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Common Kestrel at RSPB Rainham Marshes nature reserve which is located at Thames Estuary.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is a bird of prey species belonging to the kestrel group of the falcon family Falconidae. It is also known as the European Kestrel, Eurasian Kestrel, or Old World Kestrel. In Britain, where no other brown falcon occurs, it is generally just called "the Kestrel".
This species occurs over a large range. It is widespread in Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as occasionally reaching the east coast of North America. The Common Kestrel is small compared with other birds of prey, but larger than most songbirds. Kestrels have long wings as well as a distinctive long tail like the other Falco species. This bird's plumage is mainly brown with dark spots. Unlike most hawks they display sexual colour dimorphism with the male having a blue-grey head and tail. The tail is brown with black bars in females, and has a black tip with a narrow white rim in both sexes. All Common Kestrels sexes have a prominent black malar stripe like their closest relatives.

Common Kestrels measure 34 – 38 cm (~13 – 15 in) from head to tail, with a wingspan of 70 – 80 cm (~27 – 31 in). The average adult male weighs around 155 g (~5½ oz) with the adult female weighing around 184 g (~6½ oz).

Behaviour
This is a diurnal animal and prefers an "open country" habitat such as fields, heaths, and marshland. When hunting, the Common Kestrel hovers about 10 – 20 m (≈33 – 66 ft) above the ground, searching for prey, usually by flying into the wind or using thermals from ridges. Once prey is sighted, the bird makes a short, steep dive toward the target. It can often be found hunting along the sides of roads and motorways. It has recently been shown that it is able to see near ultraviolet light. This allows them to detect the urine trails around rodent burrows, which reflect ultraviolet light.

Prey
Kestrels prey upon small mammals, including voles, as well as small birds, large insects, earthworms, and frogs. Like most birds of prey, Kestrels have keen eyesight enabling them to spot small prey from a distance. Kestrels require the equivalent of 4-8 voles a day, depending on energy expenditure (time of the year, amount of hovering, etc). They have been known to catch several voles in succession and to store some for later consumption.

In built-up areas Kestrels will often nest on buildings or reuse the old nests of crows.
thor68, haraprasan, PaulH, PaulGana, jaycee, Royaldevon, vanderschelden, CeltickRanger, Adanac, Luis52, Gert-Paassen, hester has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Pekka,

Excellent picture of this kestrel. Beautiful composition. Excellent sharpness. Splendid light and colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

this is really wonderful! :-) excellent capture, i really like the overall brown tones - on the pretty kestrel and the nice
blurred background - providing a splendid warm atmosphere. the sharpness is good as well as the sitting pose on the pole.
terrific job & take care, thor.

Hi Pekka
Very nice shot, the background is very nice, good composition and very nice commond kestrel female.
Cheers.
Jorge

Hi Pekka,
A lovely capture of this beautiful kestrel bird. A very good composition with a nice BG and sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 981 W: 17 N: 2563] (9450)
  • [2008-04-25 5:13]

Hi Pekka, excellent composition and some great light too, i love the overall colour theme here. You also have some good detail on this healthy looking Kestral, very well done.
Paul

great DOF and detail and focus, good lighting and exposure

Hello Pekka
I just love Raptors and the Kestrel is such a wonderful bird...(I do hate the bird namers calling common though!!..its far from common in my book)
The details you have captured here are absolutely amazing especially when taking into account The 500 and a 1.4..and add into that iso 800..Its astonishing work and highlights your expertise perfectly.
Tfs this brilliant capture.
All the Best
Paul

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 327 W: 0 N: 280] (1619)
  • [2008-04-25 10:14]

Hi Pekka
this is a very nice composition and very good sharp
well done.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4022] (13255)
  • [2008-04-25 13:48]

Hi Pekka,

A wonderful Kestrel in a wonderful pose. The face, wings and plummage are superb with excellent details. I love the background which picks up the shades of the bird.

Jane

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2008-04-25 13:58]

Fantastic capture of this Kestrel, Pekka!!!!!
This is razor-sharp and full of detail!
Excellent composition too.
I love the warm tones.
Great BG-blurring DOF.
Very fine work!
Thanks!!

Joe

Beautiful Kestrel you photographed in this reserve,Pekka.
TFS
Annick

hello Pekka

excellent image of this Kestrel with the warm light and colours,
fine POV, framing, and DOF, great sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 1 N: 3939] (13258)
  • [2008-04-25 18:44]

Hello Pekka,
Beautiful lighting, used to great advantage. Your focus is spot on, giving this image some great detail. Wonderful work Pekka. Thank You.
Rick

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1036 W: 5 N: 2728] (9914)
  • [2008-04-25 19:08]

Hola Pekka.
Lovly photo of this Falcon. Great pose, sharpness and Bg. I like the way he is lookig to You. Very interesting Note My friend.
Saludos
Luis52.

Hello Pekka,


Exellent composition and picture.
Beautiful colors and BG.

Gert

Hello Pekka,

Fabulous details of this kestrel! The colours are perfect and I like that reflection in his eye.
Good off-centre composition!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)
pl :-)

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1497 W: 18 N: 2924] (10762)
  • [2008-04-27 11:19]

Hi Pekka

Beautiful sharp and detailed shot of this lovely bird. I love the eye contact and the catchlight. Nicely composed and great POV

TFS

Karan

This is a superb shot, Pekka...I love the details and the warm colours, and of course, the subject is very beautiful.
Also, I'll be irregular till I get a new comp, Pekka. The old one's declared it's down n out!can't even get to use the simplest of PP softwares!
Thanks a lot!

Goldy

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