I could add another “F word” to describe these birds – “frustrating.”
American kestrels are quite common out on the plains of Colorado and I see them frequently. Getting good pics of them when I do see them though is not common. They are quite skittish and they have a knack for taking off in the direction that prevents a shot. Throw in the fact that they are small (North America’s smallest falcon in fact) and it is just flat out hard to get a good capture of them, particularly in flight.
This past weekend I got lucky and captured a few decent images of a female though. She was perched on a wire like they often are but this time she flew back toward me giving a few flight shots in the process. Definitely was fun.