My first sighting! by cjwhite

My first sighting!

This is the first time I've ever seen an American Kestrel! I didn't know what kind of bird I was shooting, because it was in the very top of a tree. I knew it was big and I thought it might be some type of hawk.

When I got the pics on the computer, I was really excited! This is the first time I've seen a falcon in the wild and it has prey. I think it's a poor little mouse.

I really wish my pic was a little clearer, but I'm still happy with the capture! :0)

Thank you so much for your kind comments and faves on my recent bird pics!!! :0)

Now Jeff is on the sock monkey hat band wagon. LOL!
Wow, this is very special. Congrats on this shot
January 6th, 2012  
No, no, no. Not a poor little mouse.

Good kestrel.

Rodents are vermin. The only useful purpose for a rodent is hawk food and snake food. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

How much cropping did you have to do with this?
January 6th, 2012  
Congrats on your capture! I love to shoot birds, but I tend to get the focus just a little off and get a really sharp branch :-)
January 6th, 2012  
Wonderful capture!
January 6th, 2012  
@webfoot It was 5.04 MB and now it's 114 KB. I didn't make it all the way to the tree, before it saw me. It flew away with its dinner.
January 6th, 2012  
Oh my . . poor mouse. But GREAT photo! Beautiful bird. How lucky you were to spot this. :)
January 6th, 2012  
@sweetmommyof3 Thank you! I get a lot of empty branches! LOL!
January 6th, 2012  
Its beautiful Carolyn, and nice and clear. I never heard of a Kestrel.
January 6th, 2012  
Isn't it SO exciting to come across something like this? Good thing you got a bird identifying book, and you certainly are putting it to good use. I'm off to see what I've missed.
January 6th, 2012  
Beautiful photo and beautiful bird! Well done!
January 6th, 2012  
awesome capture, ditto what paul m. said! lol
January 6th, 2012  
What a great capture ... it's a beautiful bird. I love learning about birds :)
January 6th, 2012  
Love how he is framed! Nicely done!
January 6th, 2012  
Cool framing. Mouse, it's what's for dinner.
January 6th, 2012  
He is absolutely gorgeous! Fantastic capture!
January 6th, 2012  
their eyes are almond shaped and large...they look human! great capture with the mouse. What is up with the sock monkey thing? I am lost!
January 6th, 2012  
"got Mouse?" hee hee
January 6th, 2012  
@espyetta There has been an ongoing discussion with some of my followers about me doing a selfie wearing my sock monkey hat. I mentioned I've been wearing one. It's a knit hat that looks like a sock monkey, ears and all. :0)
January 6th, 2012  
He has lovely markings. Great shot.
January 6th, 2012  
Beautiful bird
January 6th, 2012  
An amazing shot!
January 6th, 2012  
What a great capture
January 6th, 2012  
wow, fantastic..poor little mouse.
looking forward to the selfie..x
January 6th, 2012  
Great detail.
January 6th, 2012  
Great capture - love his pretty face.
January 6th, 2012  
This is a great shot of an awesome bird, happy to hear how thrilled you are to have gotten this!!
January 6th, 2012  
Oooo... what a beauty! Great catch!
January 6th, 2012  
and he appears to be eyeballing you.
January 6th, 2012  
Great capture!
January 6th, 2012  
Wonderful find! I love birds!
January 6th, 2012  
Most Wonderful Capture! Great shot, Carolyn!
January 6th, 2012  
I think this is a great picture to have been taken from such a distance. I've never seen one of those. Congratulations on captured this guy.
January 6th, 2012  
Wow! Great catch.
January 6th, 2012  
Wow.....great find!
January 6th, 2012  
Fantastic, love the markings on him.
January 6th, 2012  
He has lovely markign son him. Kestrals are quite common here, usually near motor ways as well as sparrow hawks
January 6th, 2012  
Great shot! This is a handsome bird.
January 6th, 2012  
Never seen those birds to. Excellent capture. Thanks for sharing
January 6th, 2012  
Nicely framed between the branches. Very different from our kestrels.
January 6th, 2012  
Wow, what a capture! Beautiful. I love it.

PS.....Sock Monkey, sock monkey!
January 6th, 2012  
Sock monkey!

What a gorgeous bird and a great capture of it. :)
January 6th, 2012  
Aww wow, fab piccie!!

Was a fab day here for pictures of birds, especially the famous heron, and a fair few robins.. shame I left my camera at home ay :oP
January 6th, 2012  
Great find! I vote SOCK MONKEY too.
January 7th, 2012  
FAV! Love this capture...such a regal looking bird! I guess I am missing something with the whole sock monkey comments?
January 7th, 2012  
Fantastic colouring - well done for capturing even if not totally focussed - you can still see those markings and colours really clearly.
January 7th, 2012  
awesome sighting and capture
January 8th, 2012  
What an awesome capture-for you and the bird! I love the colors on him!
January 8th, 2012  
Awesome capture
January 9th, 2012  
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