Windhover, a photo from Cornwall, England

Photographer's Note

The Windhover, otherwise known as a Kestrel.

In the thumbnail, this small bird of prey is not immediately obvious, but when opened you can see how perfectly camouflaged the bird is.

Taken on a walk on the coastal path.
The Kestrel hunts by using the hovering technique.
Typically it flies along until prey or a likely spot for prey is sighted. It then checks and hovers, with occasional deeper wing-beats and tail fanned out and pointing down for stability.

In spite of the exertion of hovering, the Kestrel can keep its head motionless to pinpoint a possible meal.
Lift-like, the bird drops by stages, finally pouncing and grasping with its talons.
Small mammals are its staple diet.

Please open in a new tab for a larger version.

Thanks for looking.

holmertz, ikeharel, ManishaJain, Fis2, pajaran, COSTANTINO, ChrisJ, Royaldevon, PaulVDV, mcmtanyel has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (102708) 2021-06-16 7:52

Hello Jean,
The note makes me smile: "...you can see how perfectly camouflaged the bird is." Knowing what I was supposed to look for I could find the head, but I had to open the largely enlarged version to clearly see the entire bird. You were lucky to capture such a beauty from so close, and with such sharpness and exposure. You were also lucky to find it on a rock covered with 'abstract art'. The yellow patches on various grey and brown backgrounds are quite beautiful.
Best regards,
Gert

ikeharel (113353) 2021-06-16 8:49

Hello Jean,
This Kestrel was superbly camouflaged, its colors beautifully mingling with the rocks and the vegetation upon.
Very different from our local Kestrels in Israel, especially its grey head feathers.
Wonderful photo, cheers.
Ike

ManishaJain (524) 2021-06-16 9:55

Hello Jean

A perfect Camouflage....The head matching with the grey background and the body merged with the brown grass... Quite an interesting bird with exceptionally small beak....Commendable shot as you clicked it at just the perfect angle and the right time...

Regards

Manisha jain

Silvio1953 (221627) 2021-06-16 9:56

Ciao Jean, my today neighbour, great view of fantastic rocks, , wonderful natural colors, fine details, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Tue (92370) 2021-06-16 10:34

Hello Jean,
A great photo of this small bird sitting on top of the rocks here, which are also very well and clearly visible. Those small bits of yellow are also appealing. Well done.
Lars

emka (158172) 2021-06-16 11:11

Hello Jean, If you haven't written, I wouldn't notice the bird. In the larger format, it is well visible. I like the stones covered with yellow lichens. Nice composition. Excellent sharpness. You were lucky to be able to come close and that it didn't fly away.
Best regards MAlgo

Fis2 (170779) 2021-06-16 12:47

Witaj Jean!
A very interesting place, view makes impression.
Beautiful rock and bird.
Excellent framing, colors and sharpness.
Very well done.
Good evening.
Krzysztof

ifege (48111) 2021-06-16 19:40

Hi Jean
I've never heard of a windhover and thought the photo was about the lichen on the rocks until I saw it hiding with its great camouflage. You would have needed a keen eye to see it in the wild. A great capture.
cheers
Ian

abmdsudi (95869) 2021-06-16 22:18

Hi Jean
The little messy detail that you do have to tune your eyes in to the devils! they merge in well and captured eventually which gave you a photo opportunity.
Nice capture

COSTANTINO (116518) 2021-06-16 22:48

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
and a happy evening
you are a very lucky photographer
taking such a photo with the
bird on the rock...its is so
difficult to see this one...
I agree with you that everybody
can see how perfectly camouflaged
the bird is...
regards
Costantino

jemaflor (147156) 2021-06-16 22:59

Hi Jean,
Well taken this bird like focal point of your view, good timing, nice sunlight and effect with yellow tones on the rocks, perfect sharpness, tfs.

ChrisJ (171822) 2021-06-16 23:12

Hello Jean,

Good use of selective focus with a perfectly sharp fg of lichen encrusted rocks with a kestrel perching atop them at right. I like the shallow dof and camouflage colors of the bird. It's not going to be able to catch prey if it was hot pink and stood out like a sore thumb. Tfs!

dedee (3093) 2021-06-17 3:22

Hi Jean
Well captured, both the photographic image and also spotting it in spite of its incredible camouflage.
David

vjmite (6586) 2021-06-17 4:29

Hi Jean,

So that's what Gerard Manley Hopkins was banging on about in his poem. Kestrels certainly hover in the wind. This kestrel is not obvious at first, and that's what it wants of course. But in the large version it shows up well. I like the splashes of yellow lichen on the rocks.

Vince

Royaldevon (85932) 2021-06-17 8:52

Hello Jean,

This is a beautiful shot!
The attentive eyes and hooked beak are visible, whilst the colours of its plumage illustrate just how well it is camouflaged!
I can confirm your notes about the kestrel's head when hovering; the head never moves, it must have amazing neck muscles!

Thanks for sharing,
Bev :-)

lousat (139286) 2021-06-20 1:54

Hi Jean,birds for you too like in my last post, but yours is really amazing. The little hawk is really well camouflaged in this natural setting, I recently took a photo of this species too, but fortunately it was on a branch and therefore more visible. Great photos and interesting notes! Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

PaulVDV (62920) 2021-06-21 11:07

Hello Jean,
This bird of prey does not really stand out in its environment.
In the thumbnail I couldn't see a bird at all.
I wonder how close you got to this little animal.
Best regards, Paul

mkamionka (74447) 2021-06-24 2:01

Hi Jean,
I looked at this photo for a while and my first impression was that you mixed up the photos because there is no bird in this one for sure, but after a while I did find it :)
Great textures and patterns, very well spotted,
M

mcmtanyel (68533) 2021-06-30 20:02

Hello Jean,
Oh, yes - now I see it. It is a cute little one, well placed in your frame.
Regards,
MT

jmdias (115186) 2021-09-04 12:34

jean

yes, at first sight we aren't able to see the bird. excellent camouflage. the image has a special natural mood. excellent.

take care

jorge