I photographed this American Kestrel With Wings Spread on December 31, 2022. I had arrived at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma just before sunrise. When I had enough light to photograph I began driving the auto tour road. I spotted this male American Kestrel on the right side of the road and as I drove past it; I saw it did not fly away. I turned my pickup around at the next intersection and drove back to the bird. I now had this bird on my side of the vehicle and I began photographing it. I could get this shot because it began grooming.

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) With Wings Spread

Gear Used:

• Camera: Canon EOS R7
• Lens: RF 800mm F11 IS STM

Technical:

• Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
• Date and Time Taken: December 31, 2022 (8:48 A. M.)
• Exposure Mode: Manual
• Aperture: f11
• Shutter speed: 1/250
• ISO: 1600 (Auto)
• White Balance: Auto
• Metering Mode: Evaluative
• Back-button Focus
• Animal Eye Single Point Auto Focus
• Exposure Compensation: +1/3 EV
• Focal Length: 800 mm