Falcons (kestrels) - Hunters in the Air

florian-glechner (65)in #birdphotography • 4 years ago

On several Photography trips here in Austria I was able to take some pictures of the Falcon already. It is one of the smaller birds of Prey but still I like it very much because it has a beautiful pattern and feathers. Since it is also one of the more common birds of prey you can find it nearly throughout Austria. I was able to take some pictures here in Linz, some pictures in Lower Austria, some in Burgenland and also in Vienna. But this year I still wasn't able to take a good pictures of it, some blurry ones or when the light was bad. Maybe this summer will be better for this kind of bird.

Falcon (kestrel) sitting on a branch. Picture: Florian Glechner.

Camera used	Nikon D500
Lens used	Sigma 150-600mm lens
Filter used	none
Exposure Time	1/1000 Seconds
Aperture used	F6.3
Focal Length	600 mm
Time	01:14 pm
ISO	1000

I am since a long time looking for the Peregrine falcon that also lives here in Linz but I could't take a picture of it till now. There was a spot where they were breeding but since last year they are building a brigde over the danube at exactly this place and therefore they moved the peregrine falcons to another place that I still didn't find till now. I have to investigate a little more about the peregrine falcon, so I can find them once again.

Falcon looking for prey (probably mice) during flight. Picture: Florian Glechner.

Camera used	Nikon D500
Lens used	Sigma 150-600mm lens
Filter used	none
Exposure Time	1/500 Seconds
Aperture used	F6.3
Focal Length	600 mm
Time	07:14 am
ISO	1000

Since mice are declining in numbers because of pest control, also the number of falcons is getting fewer and fewer. The Common Kestrel is still pretty common here, but I hope in several years I will still be able to take some pictures of these beautiful creatures. It is always very funny to watch them hunting in the Air, during their stationary flight they are looking for prey and if they see a mouse or something they rush down and catch it.

A falcon is a beautiful bird of prey. Picture: Florian Glechner.