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A sociable raptor for Raptorman


A sociable raptor for Raptorman
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5097 W: 178 N: 12453] (34003)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07-29
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D-5000, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO HSM, @ ISO 400
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/1250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Bayram's Dedications-II, Birds from the Middle East and Europe [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-08-16 0:42
Viewed: 423
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Falco naumanni (Lesser Kestrel) [in Turk. Küçük Kerkenez] (Juvenile Female)

Hi friends, today another raptor which I encountered during E Anatolian trip in a high plateau (approx. 2000 asl) of Ağrı province and I would like to dedicate this posting to a raptor expert and lover friend on TN, Akif Aykurt (Raptorman)!

TFL and Have a nice Sunday!
Cheers,

©Bayram GÖÇMEN, Ege University, Faculty of Science. All Rights Reserved.

*****************************

The lesser kestrel is a small kestrel with long pointed wings and a long tail marked with a black band at the end. Males and females are distinguishable by colouring. Males have a pale brown back and blue-grey feathers on the crown, rump, neck and tail. The belly is creamy pink with small brown streaks. In females, the back and head are mid brown and the belly is pale. Both back and belly are streaked with brown. Males and females have white undersides to their wings, with black tips. The eye ring is bright yellow and the feet are yellow to orange. The ankles and feet lack feathers.

Found in Europe and northern Asia between latitudes of 30 and 50 ºN at up to 500 m above sea level. This species is migratory, moving to sub-Saharan Africa during the winter, and congregating most abundantly in northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. It is an inhabitant of highland farming regions and grassy plains in the winter range, the lesser kestrel prefers open or wooded grassland and cultivated areas during the summer breeding season. It nests in areas with mountain slopes, gorges and deep ravines surrounded by open areas for hunting.

Travelling in loose flocks of hundreds of birds, this sociable species will also roost together in trees, but migrate singly or in flocks of less than 50, at altitudes of around 2000 m. The lesser kestrel's flapping flight is shallow and rapid and is more conspicuous to prey than the subtle gliding flight that is more normally used. Hunting, usually for small mammals, makes excellent use of the lesser kestrel's powerful eyesight, sharp claws and strong beak. It dives almost silently from a perch or from mid air and pounces on prey with the claws, before swiftly killing its prey with a bite to the back of the head. Breeding takes place between March and May, and eggs are laid, not in nests, but in scraped out depressions in trees. Again, lesser kestrels nest as colonies and pairs will display to each other to strengthen the pair bond. The female invests more time than the male in incubating the four to six eggs she lays, and rearing the chicks when they hatch after 28 – 31 days, but the male will contribute by fighting to defend their territory. The chicks hatch over several days and so the last to hatch is smaller than the others. This individual is most likely to die as it cannot compete effectively for food, and when food is particularly scarce it may be killed and eaten by its siblings. The chicks are fed for two to four weeks, and then must learn to hunt for themselves.

Reference:

1. Perrins, C. & Attenborough, D. (1987). Collins New Generation Guide to the BIRDS of Britain and Europe. William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd., Glasgow, 320 pp.
2. Wikipedia.
3. ARKive.
siggi, horias, nkasot, cypturk, Gert-Paassen, SMYRNA, yasemin, cirano, xTauruSx, bahadir, zulfu, jlinaresp, falke, goatman04, maurydv, Hormon_Manyer, uleko, Noisette, montivipera, CeltickRanger, anemone has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Hormon_Manyer: Hi and Good Morningboreocypriensis 3 08-17 05:29
To Raptorman: Selamboreocypriensis 1 08-16 12:18
To Argus: Hi MFboreocypriensis 1 08-16 01:18
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1378 W: 56 N: 4747] (16330)
  • [2009-08-16 0:47]

Hello MF Bayram,
Wonderful photo of this Kestrel.Great management in exposure. The light does great things here. Excellent sharpness and a very beautiful BG. Great POV.
Best regards Siggi

Bayram ,\
Waw, what dynamic capture.
Great colors,sharp , beautiful !
Congratulation!
Horia

Günaydın Bayram hocam, iyi pazarlar. Harika bir uçuş anı karesi olmuş. Elinize ve emeğinize sağlık.
Nazım

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2395 W: 94 N: 5542] (17634)
  • [2009-08-16 1:02]

Hello Bayram,
Beautiful photo of this Lesser Kestrel in flight. Great sharp details and a wonderful composition with the frontal POV. Beautiful natural light and colours. Good OOF BG.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3821 W: 190 N: 11376] (35063)
  • [2009-08-16 1:13]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram,
When I first saw this and gave you my ID suggestion, I thought that this was a great capture of a Lesser Kestrel female juv. and it is a fine tribute to our raptor expert Akif!
The POV shows the features with excellent clarity and well against the OOF natural BG.
Well done and thanks,
Have a good day Dostum,
Ivan

Halo Dayi, kerkenezi ne guzel cekmissin. Ucma aninda iyi yakalamissin.
Uc boyutlu ve canli gibi olmus. Selamlar.
Merih

Hi neighbour and little bro,

very nice inflight shot from this Falcon.

Good pov and sharpness.
Exellent shot.

gert

Kanka iyi pazarlar. Uçma halindeki bir kuşu çekmenin zor olduğunu düşünürsek, bir de eğer kuş çok hızlı ise son derece başarılı bir fotoğraf olmuş. eline sağlık.
Gökhan

Hi Bayram
Very dynamic picture. Details and sharpness are very good...
Gercekten harika olmus cekimin. Eline saglik kardesim...
Hepimizden selam...
Leyla.

Bayram Slav,
Biraz uzak mesafe ile alakalı netlik sorunu olsa da çok güzel bir pozda yakalanmış,renkleri ve arka planı ile harika bir kerkenez fotosu olmuş.Armağan adresini hakkediyor.Eline emeğine sağlık dostum.
Pîroz dikim.

What a lovely shot of this Kestrel, Big Bro!
I love this shot!
Goldy

Bayram hocam, harika bir uçar küçük kerkenez. Elinize sağlık.
Deniz

Selam Hocam, alçak gönüllülüğünüzle bir kez daha size saygım katlandı. Mükemmel olmasada bana göre harika bir çekim. Neticede benim başarabişleceğim bir çekim değil.
Emeğinize sağlık.
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1063 W: 0 N: 162] (868)
  • [2009-08-16 4:11]

Sayın Hocam, oldukça süratli olan bu kuşu bana göre çok güzel çekmişsiniz. Genelde kanat aldından karelerini hatırlamakla birlikte kanat üstü uçma hali de çok güzel durmuş.
Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

Hi Friend!

A beautiful photo, sublime, full of peace ... good depth and very well composed, you can almost predict the flight of the bird. Excellent work Bayram,

TFS!

Jesús

  • Great 
  • falke Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 156 W: 17 N: 458] (1682)
  • [2009-08-16 4:53]

What a great angle! I really like the way you kept it flying into the frame as it shows the speed.

Regards/Bengt

Salam Bayram,

A beautiful capture of this Kestrel in flight with great colors, sharpness & details. Well done & TFS.

Regards

Umar

Çok güzel bir hediye olmuş Bayram..
netlik detaylar nefis..emeğine sağlık...

Bayram hocam , Beypazarında arazide olduğumdan fotoğrafı şimdi gördüm .
Değerli armağanın için çok teşekkür ederim .
Bende sana umarım güzel bir Yılan fotoğrafı armağan etmek isterim , Ağustos sonundan itibaren 24 gün boyunca Datçada ve birkaç günde İzmirde olacağım , Datça Sürüngenler yönünden çok zengin , umarım bişeyler çekebilirim .
Selamlar , Sevgiler .

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2009-08-16 14:34]

Hello Bayram

Great actipn shot - good timing and use of the frame.

Best wishes

James

Hello MF Bayram,
a splendid capture of this bird of prey in-flight, excellent POV and composition with a very good neutral BG.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Hi Barea,

Beautiful shot, great composition - as always from You. Maybe 1/250 was a little too slow, faster shutter would have been probably better, but I speak easy because my models don't used to fly away fastly. :) Nice dedication also. Tfs.

Just sent the e-mail to You with the ID specifications, please check out Your mailbox. Have a good night and a nice week. Friendly regards, László

Hi Bayram,


This is amazing capture of the lovely bird in its flight. You managed to capture it very neatly. Very nice sharp image. Nice colours and good use of light. Very well composed.

TFS,
Kedar

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2997 W: 162 N: 968] (2839)
  • [2009-08-17 9:16]

Hello Bayram,
A terrific bird of prey very well captured in flight. Great details and beautiful light and colours. I like the soft background too.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Merhaba Bayram
a fine capture of this Lesser Kestrel taken in flight, great wings position, sharp details and beautiful BG
Have a good night
Jacqueline

Merhaba Hocam,
Uçuş halindeki kerkenezi çok güzel yakalamışsınız, elinize sağlık.
Saygılarımla, Naşit

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2575] (9085)
  • [2009-08-18 22:11]

Merhaba MF Bayram,
a veery professionally done shot of this raptor. well taken in clarity and artistic style at the same time.
Well presented in nice and exciting colors. the patterns and colours on the birds body is incredible.

Regards,
Foozi

hello Bayram

an excellent in-flight photo of the Lesser Kestrel
with a fine frontal POV, fine focus on it with
great sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Muhteşem bir bakış açısı. Tam süzülürken yakalamışsınız.
Elinize sağlık hocam, saygılarımla..
Özgür

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