American Kestrel with Dragonfly

[David Salem]

We have already been having the best raptor season in years. We counted 40 Raptors yesterday morning in a few hours. Kestrels, Red-tails, Red-shoulders, Merlins, lots of Harriers and two local Peregrines, Oh and a Golden Eagle the day before.
Most of the larger raptors are feeding on the migrant coots ,which are in thick now. We call them the buffet :)

I found a spot about month ago that a male and two female Kestrels have been hanging out.
Over a period of time they have gotten used to my truck and have been letting me get pretty close. It has taken me years to get this close to this normally flighty little raptor.
They have been hunting insects in the afternoon warmth. Here she has just landed with a Dragonfly.

1DMkIV---700mm---f7.1---ss1/3200---ISO640---HH from truck@ 4:30pm---20%crop

Thanks as always for looking and for your input. I appreciate it.

David

[keith mitchell]

David it sounds like great place to be with all those Raptors, your image of this Kestrel is excellent with a Dragonfly bonus you could not ask for more.

Keith.:S3:

[Doug Brown]

Your dedication to getting close over time has paid off with a great image of a normally skittish bird. The dragonfly adds a lot to the frame. Here's hoping the birds stick around until January!

[Grace Scalzo]

Just fantastic. Sounds like you've created a good opportunity, looking forward to more .

[Bill Dix]

Fabulous capture. Patience pays off. Nice look-back pose and dragonfly a real bonus. Nicely done. I could imagine a little less at the bottom, but no biggie.

[Satish Ranadive]

Excellent image of beautiful lady with nice look back pose. Dragon fly is bonus and quite interesting.
Beautiful BG and composition.

Regards,
Satish.

[yogesh_puranik]

excellent image david. superb shoulder back position nice eye contact and dragon fly is added bonus. wish i was there in CA :(.

[David Salem]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Doug, looks like you should have a good trip out out here in January.ook
forward to seeing you January

[Stu Bowie]

Hi David, shooting from a vehicle is one of the best hides you can get, and you have made the most of this sighting. Super pose, love the light, and I do like the overall comp. I really the colours to the BG too.

I would give you a 1000 kingfishers to have a location like this. Raptors arent easy to come by at the best of times. Hope you get plenty of keepers here.

[Holger Leyrer]

Dito all the positives above! It's an excellent image

[John Robinson]

Yes - all been said . Great image.
JR

[dankearl]

Wow…….
Nice job, not much more to say.

[Hilary Hann]

Love this, love the tones of the image, the pose of the bird and the contrast of the blue of the dragonfly.

[gail bisson]

What a wonderful shot.
the light, the pose and the blue color of the dragonfly are wonderful.
10 out of 10 from me,
Gail

[Jim Crosswell]

Great image David!

[Ashleigh Scully]

Hi David -

This is amazing! I really like the layered background. Also the depth of field is perfect to capture the Kestrel's tail and head sharply. The eye contact and head turn are perfect, too!

Congratulations!

[MohsenVahedipour]

What a terrific shot! Excellent action, pose, light, perch, BG & IQ. very well composed. TFS

[David Salem]

Thanks for the comments everyone