HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH KESTRELS-FACTS ABOUT KESTRELS

This video is all about kestrels one of our smaller birds of prey. It covers how to photograph Kestrels and also the habits and biology of these fantastic little birds. The more we know about our subject the greater chance we have to find and photograph it. in this case the wonderful kestrel.
#wildlifephotography #birdphotography #nikonmirrorless
Websites : www.stevehedgesphotography.co.uk
www.stevehedgesphotographyonlinecourses.com

[@KGsPhotography]

I can stand there watching Kestrels hunting all day long. Fascinating birds. Great vid as always. Cheers Keith

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Hi Keith, really sorry i didn't reply to this comment. It didn't show up in my notifications. Thanks very much mate, yes brilliant birds aren't they?

[@KGsPhotography]

@@SteveHedgesPhotography no prob mate difficult to keep up sometimes I know that feeling.

[@Rob.1340]

Fantastic birds. Cheers Steve. All the best. 👍📷😎

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Yes they are mate, thanks for watching, cheers Steve.

[@CamillaI]

Good work Steve a great subject Kestrels one of the easier birds of prey to photograph as it regularly hovers 👍

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Mark, yes they do make life a bit easier for us. Cheers Steve.

[@nickswildlifefootage9392]

Kestrels are my favourite of all the UK's birds of prey so I enjoyed your video some great tips there Steve

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Nick, really glad you enjoyed it. Yes cracking little birds aren't they? All the best, Steve.

[@tectorama]

We went to Abberton again today, and I'd taken a few ok photos. I was walking back to the visitor centre when I turned round to see a Kestrel hovering behind me. I managed to get my best ever Kestrel photo, head on and with the sun behind me.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

That's brilliant, I love to see a Kestrel hovering. Really pleased you got the shot. All the best, Steve.

[@gregorydobson4307]

Great video & info. I guess this is why you see so many kestrels hunting next to roads as the verge normally has long grass.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Hi Greg, thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it. Yes grass verges are ideal hunting locations for Kestrels. Thanks for watching, cheers Steve.

[@cynical1952]

Good video and stills Steve. A lovely bird to photograph and we are fortunate in Kent to have nice numbers of them. Take care mate.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Steve, yes it's nice that they are doing well in Essex and Kent isn't it? You take care too, all the best, Steve.

[@Nirmal-qo8gw]

Lovely video Steve !! Informational too👍. Neat photographs and slow motion. There was a Kestrel nest in Bushy Park,Surrey, last year. In a hole in an old tree😃, had a successful brood too apparently 🙂.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much, really pleased you enjoyed it. Yes I've seen a few Kestrels in London parks. Thanks for watching, all the best, Steve.

[@SkylarkFields]

Interesting video. Here in my part of Dorset kestrels are pretty common and we do see them most days when we are walking the dog. Beautiful birds.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much for watching, it's good to hear these fantastic little birds of prey are doing well elsewhere. All the best, Steve.

[@TheGazzadj]

Informative video and some great shots Steve. Rgds Gary

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much mate, they are lovely little birds aren't they? Cheers Steve.

[@TheGazzadj]

@@SteveHedgesPhotography One of my favourites along with peregrine falcons.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Yes absolutely, I still haven't got a decent shit of a Peregrine falcon. Certainly on my wish list.

[@Wessexphotography]

Exellent informative video Steve and superb footage and stills of the kestral. I have a place near me where there are kestrels, but I always struggle with exposure when in flight or hovering. Like you, I have the 200-500mm I to shoot at 7.1, 1/2000, and upwards of +1.7 ev on D21 and still a silhouette. I will get it right one day, and when I do, I will jump for joy.. 😊

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much, really pleased you enjoyed it. Yes great to get hovering shots. I tend to shoot in manual exposure and just keep an eye on the histogram. Good luck getting some decent shots. All the best, Steve.

[@tectoramia-sz1lu]

A lot of luck is also needed to photograph any bird, getting the bird facing the right way etc. I managed a reasonable photo of a female Kestrel at Abberton reservoir, not far from the visitor centre, she's often there. I used my 200-500 with a 1.4 TC. One tip with this lens. I have the lens hood attached to the lens with a short piece of fishing line, after having it once drop off when I was in a hide. It was a right pain retrieving it, and they are expensive to replace.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Yes luck and persistence. Yes a got a few shots of a Kestrel a couple of days ago. Also got some nice shots of skylarks and yellow wagtails. Good tip about the fishing line thanks for sharing. I think Abberton is a very good birding spot at the moment. All the best, Steve.

[@juanitakelly3082]

Very interesting info and great photos of these great birds. Thanks! I've only ever seen two but I know there are more in my area - Western Washington State in the US.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Juanita, yes fantastic birds aren't they? Nice to hear there are lots in your area too. Thanks for watching, all the best, Steve.

[@railway-share3820]

By the way the chap on the Yorkshire Wolds who has videos of a male kestrel raising chicks is Robert E. Fuller. He has a lot of wildlife videos on here.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks for letting me know that. I'll have to check out he's channel.

[@lesleyb26]

Talking about evolution, did you hear about the male kestrel up in the Yorkshire worlds who raised his 6 chick's when the female went missing. Male kestrel are not normally able to do this but he learnt how to titbit feed them, absolutely magic ❤

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Hi Lesley, no I hadn't heard about that. What a fantastic outcome from a sad situation. I guess the female passed away but well done to the male Kestrel. Thanks for telling me about that, brilliant.

[@Wessexphotography]

Nice informative video, Steve.. unfortunately, Kestrel numbers have dropped off a little in my area. They have disappeared from the regular places I used to see over the past 3 years . Might down to the vole population like you said and found better hunting grounds.. Atb Joe

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Hi Joe, thanks very much glad you enjoyed it. Yes I think the number of Kestrels and also barn owls do vary hugely from year to year. But what we don't want to see is a downward trend over a number of years do we? Thanks for watching, all the best, Steve.

[@Alpa6c]

I have desired to capture good kestrel images for some time. If I can find a good location I plan to make the attempt. Kestrels around here are quite skittish. Edit to add: I see them regularly (SE Alabama), but not often in a good location for photography.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Hi Tim, yes it's all about the location. We need the right habitat for the target species and nice backgrounds plus the ability to get in the right position for photography. Good luck with your photography, all the best, Steve.

[@wildphil]

Good info, Steve. I had no idea about the ultra violet light. I wonder how many other birds can also see it?

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Phil, yes it's amazing isn't it? I would think that there must be other birds with the same super power. Cheers Steve.

[@NaturallyCuriousUK]

Hi Phil, in answer to your question, most diurnal birds can see in UV. I can highly recommend Tim Birkhead's book "Bird Sense - What It's Like To Be A Bird" in which the first chapter is all about their vision. 🙂

[@railway-share3820]

Went for a long walk the other day Steve along the River Hull near Beverley. As I was on the way back and crossing a car park, a kestrel flew over and hovered just above my head for a while. I got off several short bursts before it flew away. The car park is sort of asphalt with no grass. Why it choose that spot to hover over no idea. Maybe it saw my camera and was a bit vain.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Well you never know, if only all wildlife wanted it's photo taken. Great birds to watch when they are hovering aren't they?