Lanner Falcon Feast

[Morkel Erasmus]

Keeping with my 'tradition' of late of posting images of raptors feeding (oh why can't I be around when they catch the #@%$#@ food ;))...

This Lanner Falcon had caught a laughing dove shortly before we arrived at the Qubitje Quap waterhole in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, and was feasting on it quite close to the road.

I quite liked the sidelighting here...

All comments and critique highly regarded and appreciated, as always...

Techs:
Canon 40D with 100-400mm L IS USM @ 275mm
f5.6 @ 1/640 SS @ ISO-500
Exp +0.3

[Harshad Barve]

Morkelbhai
you have captured moment very well here ,
TFS

[Stu Bowie]

Being so close, looks like he was more interested in his food than flying away. I like how his beak is full of dove, and although taken from a vehicle, the angle works fine here. Great sighting mate.

[Paul Randall]

Hi Morkal, you've done really well to get that close to the action with a relatively small focal length.
I think the yellows around the beak look a bit over saturated but that could be how they really look (I've never seen this species in real life.)
Comp. looks fine and sharpness is great too, well done.

[Kiran Poonacha]

loved the details in the shadows Morkel, nice moment too, congrats..

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks a lot Kiran, Paul, Harshad & Stu.

Paul - I didn't saturate this image at all, however I did shoot on the 'daylight' WB setting to warm the colours up a bit.

[Clement Francis]

Any picture of a bird of prey with a kill is always amazing. This is just too good.

[arash_hazeghi]

Beautiful shot Morkel, predatory behavior is interesting, I like the sidelight too.

[Morkel Erasmus]

thanks for viewing Clement & Arash :)

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Impressive!
I agree with you about the light here. Great catch by you and the raptor!