No mice or lizards were harmed in the making of this post...

[khiemtran]

Getting in to work this morning, this was the first thing I saw...



It was sitting on the roof-rack of one of my friends' car, so I was able to get some close-up photos.



It soon flew off, but I spotted it again later that morning, when I had to go back to my car to check the odometer reading. (Naturally, I brought my camera...)



Nankeen kestrel on the wing...



After work, I headed out to the beach, where I saw a couple of black-shouldered kites.



And, just for good measure, some shots from earlier in the week. A white-faced heron...



A little egret...



And a little pied cormorant drying its wings...

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

What an obliging kestrel to pose so nicely for its portrait!

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, that one will be hard to top. I was just about as close as I could ever have gotten when I got out of the car and saw it sitting on the roof of my friend's car only a few spaces away.

[tentaclenews.livejournal.com]

Those are some great shots. Looks like you are in prime birding territory. Thanks for sharing these.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! I'm very lucky that there are such beautiful birds so near my workplace.

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

So. Beautiful.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes! They're amazing creatures...

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

So. Beautiful.

[soon_lee]

That first image is beautiful; that light quality too.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was still early in the morning and the light was angled and golden. It's going to be hard to top that first shot.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

"Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!" said my daughter when we looked at these photos. I concur. :D

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear it! The kestrels especially are amazing birds to watch.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

The black-shouldered kite's eyes are so intense! (And his talons are pretty intense-seeming too.) The photo of the Nanking kestrel on the wing is amazing.

The white-faced heron looks like a businessman heading in to the office. Are you sure the isn't someone nearby turning people into birds?

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Good point. I wonder if that explains why they've all been so desperate to get my attention lately...