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The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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Flint Hills of Kansas
Kestrels are arriving here in the Flint Hills in large numbers again this year. They are such fast flyers they present an added challenge to photographers, especially when trying for that perfect BIF. I’ve been trying to reacclimate to accommodate. It takes practice and different settings to catch up to these little falcons in flight. Proper Practice Provides Perfect Performance...along with a dose of good luck!
I managed a semi-good/semi-bad sequence of a Kestrel making a stoop that resulted in success. It was very much a gunslinger shootout affair. Before that, my interest was piqued by trying the road hunt method of seeing the bird in flight and trying to stop the truck, get out, get ready, and shoot, hoping to get something decent out of that deal. Hard as that was to say, it’s a lot easier said than done. Did I mention Kestrels are really fast?
4/10/22 Kestrel BIF. Result encouraging, but not what I hoped for.
I saw the bird again 5 days later in about the same location. So I tried the same tactic again, and was a little better but still not good enough. 4/15/22 At least I’ve got my bird location spotted. I went back to try again the next day.
The sequence began just the way it ended, with my Kestrel* perched on a power line watching for another potential victim. This Kestrel has learned as much as I have during our interaction, and plays the leapfrog game that I have found is common with other raptors perching on poles or lines. They have a comfort zone. If you get closer than that they will fly forward enough to re-establish that zone. They will do that about three times before taking off for a distance that settles the issue in their favor, usually by flying away and circling around to take up a position behind you. So I just parked, got out, and became a bump in the shade beside my little truck. That plan worked! After awhile the bird determined I was not a threat and resumed it’s hunting plans.
Kestrel watching me to decide if I am a threat. Since I didn’t move it decided to get back to the business at hand and find something to fill it’s belly.
Funny how, when you’re ready, things just work out better. It hadn’t taken the bird long to spot what it was after. 4/18/22
After getting some altitude the bird began to drop to gain speed and maneuver for the best angle of attack. Distances required to gain or lose speed happen in a hurry for Kestrels.
As you can see by the fanned tail, this stage is when the best BIF shots are easiest to collect, as the bird is suddenly slowing at covering distance. 4/18/22
I am getting the sense something is about to happen as forward progress has nearly come to a halt. Any second now things could happen in a frenzied blur of action. 4/18/22
The frenzy has commenced! The bird dropped in a flash and is now moving so fast that trying to keep up is problematic for me. 4/18/22
Kestrel a spilt second after nailing another victim. 4/18/22
Kestrel is elevating from the earth. Did he get it? 4/18/22
OMG, what a terrible time for a case of the fuzees. I think he got it but I can’t quite see it yet for the shadow. 4/18/22
Oh yeah, he GOT IT! Much to my surprise the Kestrel found a sizable insect already, even before leaves have come out on the trees. But I guess it wouldn’t be here if there weren’t plenty to eat. It has a partner too. If they jumped right into raising a brood they’ll be busy trying to feed an entire crew. Kestrels enjoy a high success rate when hunting insects in the Flint Hills. 4/18/22
Our bird took flight only to land up on the line again...a comfort zone away from me, to consume it’s catch. 4/18/22
In the time it took me to edge closer to his new perch it had just about finished the meal, although there are remnants stuck to the beak. With just a few moments of R&R it will be ready to start the process all over again. And thus the circle of life continues for our Kestrel.
I learned something from this escapade. Kestrels are a whole nuther game at a whole nuther speed. I have a lot of catching up to do to get the pics I want. But in the meantime I’m having a lot of fun trying. LOL.
*Caveat: I can’t confirm all these pics are of the same Kestrel as the pair were hunting the same area together. To complicate things further there is another pair just about a mile down the road and their territories definitely overlap. At high speed they appear one and the same in my little viewfinder.
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