This good-looking fellow not only provided a nice photo op, he also gave me a break from my worries.

A couple of weeks ago while out taking pics in one of our snowstorms, my truck died on me (starter failure). A friend towed me to a parking lot and I waited for a tow truck to take my truck to the shop. I waited. And I waited. The first company assigned to tow me failed to show up and refused to answer calls (I’m looking at you Corderos Towing & Services!).

While I waited, not only was I frustrated, I was bored. Good thing I had my camera with me to help me pass my time!

This falcon held on tight to a nearby mullein plant while the wind and snow blew. Thankfully he was quite patient and gave me a few nice captures and a welcome distraction. While it didn’t make up for the hassle, it made the wait and the cold a bit more tolerable.

Check out this pretty lady! I happened across her yesterday as she hunted a field, hovering for long periods of time over perspective prey.

Kestrels are usually pretty skittish but this one didn’t seem to mind me one bit and let me spend a good bit of time photographing her. Occasionally she would plunge into the brush after some form of prey but each time would come back empty-handed and resume her hunt.

She gave me some of the best flight shots I have ever captured of a kestrel which had me pretty excited.

American kestrels are quite common. Here in Colorado you will oftentimes find them perched on poles and wires, keeping watch on the ground below. They are North Americas smallest falcon but don’t let their size fool you. They are just as effective of a predator and just as vicious as any raptor.

It isn’t often you can get these little raptors to sit still for a picture. This past Sunday I found a male that posed every-so-briefly for me. A couple clicks of the camera and it was gone. These falcons are way cool and the males have that amazing plumage. I just wish they would let me get better pics! 😉

This pretty lady looks like she means serious business! American kestrel’s are North America’s smallest falcons and they can be just as vicious as any raptor.

I see these often when out on my #photo drives but most pictures I have of them are while they are posing on wires. They are pretty skittish and very fast and unpredictable movers so flight shots are hard to get.

This one I captured last weekend at a photoshoot event with Nature’s Educators. It is a captive bird which allowed me to

Such a pretty lady but not one that cared to have her picture taken. This female American kestrel was hanging out on a utility wire recently, as they are often seen doing.

Despite a slow, careful approach, she decided my presence wasn’t particularly welcome. I didn’t take it personally as I do have that effect on creatures of all types sometimes. Ha!

Such cool and amazing raptors are the American kestrels. They are also, a bit flighty, and not usually too willing to pose for pictures. This pretty lady was typical, barely giving me time to get my camera up before taking off from her perch. I was happy just to have caught this bit of action. 😉

Here’s one from last month that slipped through the cracks.

I was walking a local open space area when I spotted this handsome fellow as he kept watch for a meal. He wasn’t too inclined to hang around and have his picture taken but at least gave me a pretty cool launch shot.

Don’t let the size of these little ones fool you. While they are North America’s smallest falcon, they are just as capable of a hunter and as vicious of a predator as any raptor.

Sitting on a wire is where you will most often find North America’s smallest falcon. To my surprise, on this morning, I found one hanging out on the ground. He didn’t stay there for long though and soon jumped back to a more ‘normal’ perch. These little raptors are very common here in eastern Colorado but also notoriously skittish so not easy to get good pics of.

The most common place you will find these little falcons. They love to hang out on the utility wires that run along rural roads, keeping a close eye on the adjacent fields for a quick meal. While they are North America’s smallest falcon, don’t let their size fool you. They can be just as vicious and effective of a predator as their bigger family members. The males, like this one here, are just gorgeous with that blue / gray and orange / brown plumage.