Kestrels are one of my favorite birds. I love them so much, “Kestrel” became the name of a beautiful buckskin filly back in 2007 when I started documenting the Spring Creek Basin herd.
Bird photographers will wince at these blurry images of the gorgeous little (female?) falcon I photographed the other day in the basin, while hanging out with a band, but I’ve been seeing more of them, soaring over the budding greasewood and shadscale and newly growing grasses, that I thought they’d serve my purpose of *celebrating wild* very well, indeed.
“The American kestrel, also called the sparrow hawk, is the smallest and most common falcon in North America,” according to Wikipedia. All About Birds says they’re “North America’s littlest falcon” and “pack a predator’s fierce intensity into its small body. It’s one of the most colorful of all raptors.”
And because no post about kestrels is complete without Kestrel …
… From a wonderful shared visit with a friend a couple of lovely evenings ago. 🙂
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
Beautiful…you asked the other day about signs of spring where we live…Goldfinches returning. Western WA. Daffs and tulips blooming.
Sent from my iPhone
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Those are wonderful signs of spring! Love the colorful visions of the goldfinches, daffodils and tulips! 🙂
The photos are beautiful – many of us would never see one close up. I’ll know spring has come when I see the hummers arrive!
Ah, yes, the hummers. 🙂 I thought I heard one zoom past me that evening with the horses, but it was more a sound than a sight!
Thats how I know they are here is the sound!
Love all the pictures of wildlife!
Some of the littler wild friends are harder to photograph than others … and some are just more sly!
TJ, Your wild life photos are so wonderful!! It’s A privilege that you share them and we enjoy them so much. Love, Karen
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It’s a privilege, indeed, and I am so grateful to live in a place so full of wild life. 🙂
A beautiful Kestrel…and beautiful Kestrel. 🙂 Wonderful photos of both, TJ; can’t go wrong with birds and mustangs to start the day!
“Can’t go wrong with birds and mustangs to start the day”! I agree wholeheartedly. 🙂
They are one of my favorite birds!
Aren’t they amazing!? I love to see them, no matter the season. 🙂
Great place to see the birds!
Yes, it is!
I love this. I love that little bird and I think I love that horse. And the landscape? Wow…
I love the bird on principle; I’ve loved the horse for many years. 🙂 … The landscape, too.
Nice photos ! Both beautiful animals ! The basin has amazing biodiversity if you stop long enough.
That, it does! A little exploration reveals many treasures. 🙂