tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Just saw this guy flash by the window from his perch on my neighbor's railing. His observation point on our balcony's railing or the one above or below our apartment seems to be a prime hunting location. This is the south west corner of our building with a view of the natural landscape for quite a distance along the Trinity River meandering though our city of close to a million population.

I've wanted to place a feeder for song birds out there but my neighbors tell me they have done so and received zero visitors. I did put a feeder in the lawn at ground level and can always tell when this guy is sitting on a balcony railing near us. There are zero birds getting the seed. It amazes me how fast he can get down there.

I have finally become content to try to photograph birds from a couple hundred feet away. It's always a chore to move my camera to ground level and in doing so puts a crimp on my enjoyment of photographing birds.

(Download)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

American Kestrel? Certainly a fun perspective! Exif says shot with i-phone. Did you try to edit lighter for to see if you could bring out details in the bird? I was going to suggest - if using camera - to anticipate next opportunity by setting exposure compensation to account for the bright background.

tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Yep, that’s our pet Kestrel. And yes that was taken with an iPhone SE. I did try to lighten it and was moderately successful. That was the best that could be done - pushed it to looking to photoshopped then backed off a step to two. The glass on that west facing window is very tinted so glad the image had enough info to bring out what we see there.

However I do not really know PS Elements well so maybe I’ll try again after learning more.

That capture was a very lucky one, that bird has excellent hearing. I had just stepped into the doorway all the way on the other of that room and because he turned around to check out the noise I had time to get off one shot. Have tried before and will try again to get a better image.

I need to take your advice and set a real camera with those settings just outside that room’s door.

Thank you for the note.

Medoitham Loc: Haslet, Texas

Good catch to notice the Kestral on your balcony. Keep on watching, the bird might become a little more tolerant of your presence.