Pass the breakfast - Pygmy Falcon

[Callie]

Mom handing over a half-eaten skink to baby. We normally see these small falcons in the Kalahari. Here, we were in Mokala NP, near Kimberly. A wonderful small park with roan and sable, two antelope not easy to see anywhere else in SA except in captivity. At the main rest camp, there is a braai area (BBQ) and the sociable weavers have built a large nest above it. The pygmy falcons normally annex one of the nest holes for them and you know they are there because their scat droppings are plastered around the nest. They must have had a chick recently. I was following the one adult when my wife called me to show me the baby in the thorn tree. This is the youngest we have ever seen a chick. ( It still flew back to the nest). The mother flew in with a skink and started eating it. The chick maneuvered down the branches until he was able to receive his meal from the female. The other picture shows the chick in a mantle position over "his" kill. Very busy thorn

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tree but and unbelievable experience. I was up and down and left and right to try to get a view through the thorns.
Pygmy Falcon, Polihierax semitorquatus, Dwergvalk ~ Both images ~ D500; 80-400 @ 185 mm - was standing right under the tree; F/10; 1/1250; ISO 1100

 

[PhilM]

Again, nice work, Callie.
These guys look a lot like what we call American Kestrels. With the exception of the dark red patch on the back of the adult in the 1st image, these look really similar. It's getting to the time of when we begin to see a good number of Kestrels in our area, so I'll share some as I see them.

 

[Callie]

Again, nice work, Callie.
These guys look a lot like what we call American Kestrels. With the exception of the dark red patch on the back of the adult in the 1st image, these look really similar. It's getting to the time of when we begin to see a good number of Kestrels in our area, so I'll share some as I see them.

Phil, thanks, love kestrels too. We have three species, but I have not been successful shooting them! These pygmies are sparrow size, at least half as small as your kestrells.

 

[Indrajeet Singh]

Mom handing over a half-eaten skink to baby. We normally see these small falcons in the Kalahari. Here, we were in Mokala NP, near Kimberly. A wonderful small park with roan and sable, two antelope not easy to see anywhere else in SA except in captivity. At the main rest camp, there is a braai area (BBQ) and the sociable weavers have built a large nest above it. The pygmy falcons normally annex one of the nest holes for them and you know they are there because their scat droppings are plastered around the nest. They must have had a chick recently. I was following the one adult when my wife called me to show me the baby in the thorn tree. This is the youngest we have ever seen a chick. ( It still flew back to the nest). The mother flew in with a skink and started eating it. The chick maneuvered down the branches until he was able to receive his meal from the female. The other picture shows the chick in a mantle position over "his" kill. Very busy thornView attachment 4459View attachment 4460 tree but and unbelievable experience. I was up and down and left and right to try to get a view through the thorns.
Pygmy Falcon, Polihierax semitorquatus, Dwergvalk ~ Both images ~ D500; 80-400 @ 185 mm - was standing right under the tree; F/10; 1/1250; ISO 1100

Excellent images Callie.

 

[Gongster]

Lovely shots Callie, what a treat to witness that and what a bonus to photograph it!

 

[Charlie Lasswell]

Beautiful shots, I especially like pose in the second one.

 

[gordon_g]

Beaut Callie!

 

[Yezdi]

Beautiful as always Callie...Love the second shot.

 

[Kathy G]

Beautiful Callie