ANOTHER CHANCE WITHOUT WIRE

American Kestrel, Green Island Wetlands, Iowa

More than once I have complained about that the kestrels mostly perch on utility wires along the road, which isn’t my preferred location for a wildlife shot. Well, the solution seems to be to drive along roads that do not have power lines next to them. Not easy to find here in Iowa! This female American Kestrel used the dead trees at the edge of a marsh for her hunting efforts. During the summer these small falcons often eat insects, like grasshoppers. Since this is not an available option right now, they are on the outlook for small mammals and birds.

Nikon Z6II, Nikon FTZ adapter, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S

NATURE CLICKS #569 - AMERICAN KESTREL

American Kestrel, Green Island Wetlands, Mississippi Valley, Iowa

Here is another image from last weekend’s visit to the Green Island Wetlands. I was already pretty happy since I just had photographed the Rough-legged Hawk I showed in my last blog post. A few minutes later, on my way out on the muddy road, this American Kestrel just landed on a branch in front of me. With a slight turn of the car and the window down I was able to make a few clicks of this small falcon. I have written about in the blog before, the American Kestrel perches nine times out of ten on a utility wire between the poles. The bird gave me less than a minute and half of the time it looked away from me. Having the kestrel sitting actually on a tree branch is much harder to get and with the warm light of the setting sun, this is definitely a keeper.

NATURE CLICKS #516 - AMERICAN KESTREL

Female American Kestrel, near Savannah, Illinois

Nine times out of ten we can see the American Kestrel perched on a utility wire. Hardly ever I see them in a tree during winter time. This female didn’t mind my presence in the car on the other side of the road and kept looking for small rodents or birds. As much as I try to keep man-made items out of the frame, taking a picture of this small falcon often includes the wire. I get it, it’s part of the story about this bird, how they hunt and use electrical wires and power poles as their favorite perch.

NATURE CLICKS #483 - AMERICAN KESTREL, A PAIR

Male American Kestrel, near Sherrill, Iowa

I see them quite often in the same area. Most of the time the kestrels take off as soon the car stops. Not so today! Their preferred perch are the utility wires around here. Today’s photos were taken at different times. First I saw the male kestrel on my way to the Mississippi River. The picture is cropped because I stopped in a safe distance. I debated with myself if the pole should be included but is so much part of the story that I decided to keep it in the frame. Right after I continued driving I saw suddenly the female kestrel with a mouse flying away from the ground. Rodents, like mice or voles, and small birds are their main food source during the winter. The weather got much warmer the last couple days, the snow is melting rapidly, and I’m sure the mice stuck their heads out of the holes to find food as well. For some this obviously ends fatal.

Female American Kestrel

The second photo was made on my way back at the same spot. I didn’t see the male but the female American Kestrel perched nicely on the utility wire next to the road. This time I stopped almost beneath the bird but she didn’t pay attention to my presence at all and it took almost a minute before this little falcon turned her head in my direction.

The American Kestrel is the smallest but most common falcon in North America. They are migratory birds and the pair I saw today again may move further north pretty soon. However, here in the Midwest kestrels can be watched all-season.

NATURE CLICKS #469 - AMERICAN KESTREL

Female American Kestrel, Little Missouri National Grasslands, North Dakota

Here in eastern Iowa the American Kestrel can be found even during winter. Up in the northwest part of North Dakota the kestrel migrates south for the cold season. The picture was made just a few miles south of Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s North Unit. Whenever possible, most wildlife photographers try to keep the human made elements out of the frame. This is quite difficult with the American Kestrel because 90 percent of the time I find them perching on an electrical power line. This gives you no sense of location and who really loves these “wire shots”?

This female American Kestrel posed nicely on a bale of hey in a field beside the gravel road. Sure, this is a human made thing, but the difference to the “unknown wire” is that a bale of hey gives you a sense of location. Yes, grassland, fields, and prairie are preferred habitats for this bird. During summer time large insects, like grasshoppers, are their main diet, while during winter months small mammals, birds, and amphibians are on the menu.

STOPPING FOR THE PEREGRINS

Peregrine Falcon Bellevue, Iowa

I had to stop for the nest of the Peregrine Falcon again last weekend below the bluffs of Bellevue State Park, Iowa. One adult was perched again on a branch near the nest box that hangs high up in the rocks, overlooking the Mississippi River. I assume the other adult sat on the nest but I can only guess, because this is not visible from the ground at the highway. I admit this is not a fair image, because I have cropped it heavily, a lot more than just a cosmetic crop. I should have put the 1.4 teleconverter on the lens to frame the shot closer but I was kinda in a hurry. Parking is not allowed at this location, although there is a big pull-out beside the highway. I just didn’t want to deal with the local cop, who seems to be always on duty when I drive through Bellevue…😉

NATURE CLICKS #326 - PEREGRINE FALCON

Mississippi Valley, Bellevue State Park, Iowa

Another very windy day here in eastern Iowa again but staying home on a Sunday in spring is not really an option, isn’t it? My birder friend Sally gave me a hint a few days ago about the presence of Peregrine Falcons in Bellevue, Iowa. I knew about this location since a few years but had never spotted a falcon. Well, today was the day! At my arrival late morning I saw a pair of Peregrines near the nest box that is mounted to the rocks on the east side of the bluffs at Bellevue State Park. What beautiful birds!! After I had my gear in place, right beside the highway below, one of them was gone and I had no clue were it went (nest box?). The other falcon perched in a tree slightly below the box.

These Peregrin Falcons were another first sighting for me. I made quite a few shots but wasn’t really happy with the outcome due to the harsh light. I decided to come back later when the bluffs would not be in direct sunlight anymore and moved on to the Green Island Wetlands.

The photo I show you today was finally made during the late afternoon. Only one bird was sitting in a dead tree below the bluffs. Good enough for me and much easier to handle without the direct sun light…

THE PERCH MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

Male American Kestrel

Just outside of the North unit at Theodore Roosevelt National Park we came across this beautiful male American Kestrel. What really made me happy about this shot was the fact that for the first time I was able to make a photo of this little falcon without a power line in the picture. Most of the time we see them perched on a power line, looking out for prey. There is nothing wrong with that, it serves the bird well, but having the kestrel perched on a branch makes for the better image...