This photo took a lot of patience. I waited for what felt like hours for this shot, and mother nature delivered.
This is an American Kestrel. It is a member of the falcon family. I took this photo near the Garbry Big Woods Reserve. I am so excited about this photo.
~ Rick
Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.
©2018 Rick Cartwright
Picture this: I’m driving across a country road. I had just finished taking several really good photos, and I was heading home. Just ahead of me, on the left side of the road I see something. I could not tell what it was right away, but it was an animal .. maybe a dog?
As I get closer, I see this very large broad-winged hawk. I could not tell what he had killed, but he was not going to fly away with it. As I slowly drive by with my window down, he looked over his back at me, then turned and continued to devour dinner. I stopped a short distance down road and took this photo.
I am interested in some feedback on the identity of this bird. I really believe it’s a male Broad-Winged Hawk, but it has some characteristics of a female Peregrine Falcon. Thoughts?
Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.
©2018 Rick Cartwright
I have been working hard at improving my skills of photographing wildfire, especially birds of prey. My goal is to photograph one of the eagles that hunt near our home, on the Miami River. I have watched them on three occasions, but I have to know them better, and get much better at setting up without them feeling threatened or spooked. This is there habitat, and I am but a guest.
Yesterday, I went to a memorial service for a friend. I left early so could shoot some photos. I stopped at Garbry Woods Preserve, and was surprised to see this hawk. It was a great opportunity to practice my skills. It worked out great, but I was a little out of focus, and the lighting was not great.
Not far from here, I saw a second hawk. I didn’t do nearly as well, and she flew off before I was able to capture the photo. Practice makes perfect, but I have so much to learn. 😬
~ Rick
Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.
©2018 Rick Cartwright