American Kestrel in flight dorsal view

This American Kestrel kept distracting us while watching a Snowy Owl during my recent Snowy Owl Workshops. It had flown past us and offered a nice view against the white “cloudy bright” sky, but I stayed on the bird in case it banked around. I was treated to this full dorsal view as it banked around in front of some out-of-focus pine trees, which proved a perfect background.

American Kestrel Landing (Falco sparverius, Crécerelle d'Amérique, AMKE) Ontario, Canada, during my recent Winter Owl Workshops. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 Mark III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 5,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

American Kestrel Landing

Here is another from my last Winter Owl Workshop on February 25, 2025. This is the Kestrel that Dave Evans spotted first with a European Starling. It dropped the Starling and flew to the nearest telephone pole as I stopped the van. We set up hoping it would return to its feast - we all left smiling!

More Kudos!

“I have been home for a few days, and I just wanted to thank you for such an amazing time this past week! …… I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to join and learn from you. I truly appreciate all of your advice, help, and patience. The whole week was an incredible experience!”  - Maya Alpert | California | USA (Group 8/8 Owls February 2025).

American Kestrel Landing (Falco sparverius, Crécerelle d'Amérique, AMKE) Ontario, Canada, during my recent Winter Owl Workshops. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 Mark III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 16,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

Click below to check out another blog post from the encounter:

American Kestrel on European Starling Prey

We started strong on the morning of February 25th during the last of my eight weeks of Winter Owl Workshops. A beautiful, almost pure white adult male Snowy Owl showed well, and we got a terrific take-off launch sequence. With the high still lingering, we set up where a predictable female Snowy Owl spent her winter. Despite a relatively quiet (and wet) afternoon, we got some great frames of a Male Northern Harrier (AKA Gray Ghost) hunting close to us. We continued our day with another drive and stopped for a flock of Horned Lark, and then Dave Evans pointed out some movement in front of the van; An American Kestrel had just grabbed a European Starling and dropped it on the side of the road. We set up low, sat, and waited for the Kestrel to return to her prize as she watched from the closest telephone pole. It didn’t take long to return and feast on her recent catch! This is almost the last frame I made before we left her in peace. Stay tuned to the blog for more images from this winter!

American Kestrel on European Starling Prey (Falco sparverius, Crécerelle d'Amérique, AMKE on Sturnus vulgaris, Étourneau sansonnet, EUST) Ontario, Canada, during my recent Winter Owl Workshops. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 Mark III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 16,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

American Kestrel in flight

An American Kestrel from my Best of Bosque Workshop in New Mexico. One spot is still available for my December 5-9 Best of Bosque Workshop due to a medical emergency cancellation.

Why join me? I have the most experience leading workshops in and around Bosque del Apache. I spend at least 10 days scouting the best opportunities before the workshop starts, so you get all my years of experience there and the knowledge gained from recent scouting. This is a five-day workshop, so we are out photographing all five mornings and afternoons (with a mid-day break for lunch). We will visit sites outside the NWR to maximize opportunity and increase our species count. I have 40 years of experience and share all of that with you!

American Kestrel in flight (Falco sparverius, Crécerelle d'Amérique, AMKE) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 8,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

American Kestrel with mouse

An American Kestrel proudly displaying its lunch (a mouse) during my Better than Bosque Workshop in New Mexico.

American Kestrel in flight (Falco sparverius, Crécerelle d'Amérique, AMKE) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 6,400, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure.

“Here is the testimonial for the workshop, which I found to be excellent:

I recently attended the Puffins Galore workshop organized by Chris Dodds. I have attended many workshops in the last 15 years, and Chris’s was one of the most interesting. The location is amazing. Chris takes time to answer our questions and gently explain what we could be doing better. Before the workshop, I could not shoot puffins as they are erratic and quick. Now I can, thanks to Chris! ”

— Réne Bastien | Ontario, Canada | Deluxe Puffins Galore Workshop 2024

American Kestrel in flight with a cricket snack

An American Kestrel in flight with a cricket snack from my Better than Bosque Workshop in New Mexico. The Kestrel is flying slightly away, but the glance toward me, the light and the background saved this one - the cricket in its mouth is the bonus - smile.

American Kestrel in flight with a cricket snack (Falco sparverius, Crécerelle d'Amérique, AMKE) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

2024 & 2025 Best of Bosque workshop is live; join me in New Mexico for the fun! Click on the image to learn more.

American Kestrel in flight

An American Kestrel in flight from my Better than Bosque workshop in New Mexico. Talk about heart-stopping action! This was from my last time entering Bosque del Apache NWR (AKA: The Bosque) last December.

I still have one spot left for my Dec. 5-9, 2023 Better than Bosque workshop.

American Kestrel dorsal view in flight

This is another frame from my heart-stopping, off-the-charts, epic session with this American Kestrel. Admittedly, the frame before this one was an ounce better, but I clipped the tail off :)

See my favourite image from the session in my blog post from last Friday: American Kestrel in flight.

American Kestrel in flight

On my way out of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge for the last time this year, I had an epic encounter with this American Kestrel. So many images and so many poses! WOW, I think my heart stopped a couple of times!

The smallest member of the falcon family in North America is also called a Sparrow Hawk. Studies have shown that kestrels can see ultraviolet light. Researchers believe that this ability to see UV light enables them to vividly see the urine markings and trails that small mammals, such as voles, leave as they run along the ground. These trails and urine markings would likely look bright yellow to a kestrel, therefore alerting them to the presence of a meal.