Peregrine Falcon #3

[Jim Neiger]

The lighting for this image was pretty horrible, but I liked the pose, prey in the talons, and bloody bill, so I decided to post it anyway. This is the adult female bringing prey for the kids. She rocketed past the cliff where we were standing at near eye level. It was really amazing to watch these birds fly at high velocity.


SoCal - 1D3, 500mm, hand held, 1/2000, F5.6, ISO 800, manual exposure, slight crop

[David Roach]

It almost seems like rim light on this beauty; I like the spread tail feathers, the rim light (or defined edges) and the lit feathers(?) of the prey!!!!! The BG is very painterly and could use a round of NR (like it also though)!!! Wish I was there!!! And can you lighten the eye...

[Ilija Dukovski]

All of your images of the Peregrines are winners so far. Like the unusual light on this one.
Agree with David about NR. The BG is actually very interesting too.

[Brian Barcelos]

Jim, Come on man, you got to be kidding me! Another first class pic. The blood on the beak and that sinister look puts it way over the edge. Congratulations.
Brian

[Morkel Erasmus]

I would take this shot in my gallery any day of the week, 24/7! love the pose, detail and prey - the 'rim lighting' also works well here. Agree on some NR on the BG but overall a top shot...

[Melvin Grey]

Jim, if nothing else these superb images of the Peregrines are a great advert for your Flight Photography workshops. The female in this image looks like quite and old bird, but she obviously produced a successful brood and it is amazing how quickly the young ones become proficient hunters themselves. Were you fortunate enough to be able to see the female teaching the young how to catch prey in mid air by goading them with a bird she has caught and then mounting high into the sky to drop it for them to catch? They really are magnificent birds and fortunately one species that we can share with you here in the UK.

[Jim Neiger]

Jim, if nothing else these superb images of the Peregrines are a great advert for your Flight Photography workshops. The female in this image looks like quite and old bird, but she obviously produced a successful brood and it is amazing how quickly the young ones become proficient hunters themselves. Were you fortunate enough to be able to see the female teaching the young how to catch prey in mid air by goading them with a bird she has caught and then mounting high into the sky to drop it for them to catch? They really are magnificent birds and fortunately one species that we can share with you here in the UK.

Melvin,

The photogs we shot with knew the history of the bird and she is only about 4 years old. One of these photgs had photographed her when she was a fledgeling.

We did see a few far away mid air food exchanges, but not the dropping behavior you described. I was only there for about 5 days. Perhaps that behavior comes later.

We did get to see the young ones chasing and being chased by Gulls.