Had just a few minutes of sunshine after work today and was able to capture this beautiful American Kestrel in one of my trees. I’ve seen it in the yard the past few days so I’m hoping it is going to stick around.
Fun fact: The American Kestrel is the North America’s smallest of falcon and one of the most colorful raptors. (source: All About Birds)
In my back yard there is a tree that is full of these guys. They love to fly around the pond and catch the bugs. I caught this one just as it took off from the fence post.
Canon 7DmII Canon 600mm F4/IS + 1.4TC 1/1000 f/5.6 iso 500
The past year and a half has been a crazy roller-coaster of a ride. It all started with deciding to sell our house in Flower Mound, TX just because someone knocked on the door wanting to buy it. Then trying to decide where we wanted to live, only to find a place where we least expected, near the east Texas town of Overton. During all of this, there has been little time for photography as moving, job searches, relocation, and settling in has been the main focus of our time. But now, as things are finally starting to get into a somewhat normal routine, Canon released the long awaited update to the EOS 7D, the EOS 7D Mark II. To say that I have been anxiously waiting for this update for more than just a couple of years is an understatement. While I liked the old 7D, the new version really benefits from the latest auto-focus technologies and is a real winner in the wildlife arena.
So, with all that behind me, maybe now I can start getting serious about my photography “hobby” once again and begin posting more often. Let’s start with this visitor to my yard from yesterday. This red-shouldered hawk was gracious enough to sit and pose for me long enough to get outside with the big lens and take its portrait.
Enjoy, and hope to be back soon!
Canon 7D mark II, Canon 600mm F/4 IS 1/1600 @f/4, ISO 800