Greater Kestrel Playing with rock

[Kobus Tollig]

100-400mm @ 400mm
1/2000 sec, f/7.1
Mode: Av
Metering: Center-weighted average
ISO: 500
AF mode: AI Servo AF
Drive: Continuous (high): frame 1
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off
Taken near Pretoria
All comments and crits Welcome thx

[david cramer]

Interesting behavior shot, with nice details. Is he hunting for insects?

[Kobus Tollig]

Thx david. Nope he was playing with the rock. Biting it, kicking it etc for about 10 min

[Ed Cordes]

Cool behavior image. Sounds like he was practicing for more edible prey. A little less room on the left would provide a bit more impact to the action. However, if you print at 8 1/2 X 11 format the left will be cropped off anyway.

[Lowell Sims]

I agree with Ed, too much open space on the left. Otherwise, an imaginative shot.

[Mark Dumbleton]

Super image Kobus. You did well in capturing this scene as it was quite far away.
Great behaviour captured!

[Fabs Forns]

Lovely pose on great light. Is he doing the sombrero dance??? :)
I have never seen this bird, thanks for sharing it.

[Mark Fuge]

Nice shot, the first thing I noticed was the camo of the colors. First I would have liked to have seen a more contracting background, but then again I like it as is.

I agree the left side could be cropped. I would take a little more than half the open space away on the left. I would also remove a little from the bottom. Using the rule of thirds, I would place the rock in the bottom third quadrant and see how it looks. I think it would give it a better eye catcher. But as is I do like the image.

Mark

[Maxis Gamez]

This is interesting... playing with a rock for 10minutes..!! Love the details and colors.

[Ken Watkins]

Ok who knows why this happens, I have seen many African "raptors" playing with mud or rocks. Excellent capture, only nit would be that the face may have been better a little more raised.

[Stu Bowie]

Great sighting, and love the light in this. Well timed to show the claw over the rock. Great image mate.

[Arthur Morris]

The light is a bit on the harsh side but with you working right on sun angle it looks pretty. Love the rock-games. My first inclination here, and I am surprised that nobdoy has mentioned it, would be to have gotten right down on the ground....

[Kobus Tollig]

Thx all for the great comments and nits appreciate it. Artie I would have loved to go down on the. Ground but I was in a car in game reserve and I was not allowed to get out. But I do agree with you

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great behavior captured and you handled the harsh light well. I might crop a bit off the bottom.

[Ramon M. Casares]

Great natural moment captured here, great pose and lovely detail and colors, I think a lower angle would've helped although I do like it as presetned, I would only crop a bit from the bottom. Congratulations!

[Kobus Tollig]

Thx all for the comments apprecaite it. Nits noted thx