Perigrine Falcon

[Mike Wilson]

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
La Jolla 1-17-08

Over the years I have seen Peregrines coming in above the cliffs and roosting in the Pines near the Pelicans. They chase after the Pigeons that roost in the caves below the cliffs. I have tried for many years to get a decent flight shot of one and got a few last week. Only wish this bird hadn't had the missing flight feathers but you get what you get. Huge crop, this is about 15% of the frame.
D2x, 300mm f/4 AFS, handheld, 1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 320

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great pose and eye contact, Mike. I'm still waiting for a cooperative peregrine. The BG looks a bit noisy, probably due to the heavy crop.

[Caroline Darmo]

Nice details for such a huge crop, bit of noise in BG not a big deal for me. The subject itself steals the show, how cool is that to get a Peregrine in flight!!! There's a wild white Gyrfalcon not too far from where I live that I would love to photograph. One can dream...

[Alfred Forns]

Glad you got the bird Mike Maybe we can get one tomorrow morning :D Just the bg due to the crop but one fine image !!!!

[Del Cockroft]

All nits aside, getting this is an achievement in itself. The BG noise can easily be reduced. Good capture.

[David Steele]

Wow! What a great shot!

[Glenn Ehmke]

Great detail for such a large crop!

[Albert Froneman]

Truly inspirational - very well done!! Surely a selective noise reduction filter on the BG will solve the nits :-) ?

VVWD,