Kansas:
Sedgwick County: Wichita: Sim Park Golf Course: 26 February, 2007
A Web Page by Roy Beckemeyer -
Last Updated 26 February 2007
PRAIRIE FALCON - Falco mexicanus
We have been seeing a small hawk on the golf course when we walked our dogs
through much of the last several months. At first we never got a good
enough look to know what it was for sure, but it was falcon-like in wing shape
and behavior. A month or so ago, I finally got a look with binoculars and
decided it was a Prairie Falcon. Thought at the time that it might be an
immature bird, but it is apparently an adult. Last night, after a couple
of weeks away from the golf course, we saw it again. So tonight I took my
500 mm lens and flash with Fresnel lens extender on a tripod. My wife,
Pat, took our dog on around the golf course and I walked over to the tree the
bird was perched in. A nice sunny day, 5:30 to 6:00 pm, with the sun low
and brilliantly illuminating the bird in a nice warm glow made it a good
opportunity for pictures. Here are some photos of this great and
cooperative little falcon. It apparently has become accustomed to the
golfers and didn't mind me or the flash until I tried getting too close and it
flew off.
Photographs © 2007 by Roy J. Beckemeyer.
Photographs taken with Nikon D-100 digital SLR, with 500 mm manual focus f4
lens, and SB-800 flash with a Fresnel lens flash extender. Camera set at
ISO 400 and 1/160 second, manual mode.
