Hawk Conservancy Trust Falcons

Part of the show at the excellent Hawk Conservancy Trust, in Andover, Hampshire, UK is flying these superfast falcons. The Lanner can exceed 100mph, and is a determined little bugger as you can see from it’s face. The Kestrel is not as fast, but much prettier imho, and conveniently hovers before diving. Getting a finger on any of them is a real photographic challenge as they are really small, really fast, and usually really far away. These are some of my best shots, and I’ll keep on trying.

Photographs in this album include: Lanner falcon at full wing expansion, Lanner falcon in steady flight, Lanner falcon diving, Lanner falcon having a bit of a shufty, Kestrel head on, Kestrel hovering, Kestrel cruising, Kestrel banking at full wing stretch, Kestrel pottering about, and more.

▸ Technical data — all 10 images
Image Camera FL f/ Shutter ISO GPS
Lanner falcon at full wing expansion ILCE-6400 524mm f/6.3 1/2000s 800 51.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Lanner falcon in steady flight ILCE-6400 529mm f/6.3 1/2000s 1000 51.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Lanner falcon diving ILCE-6400 500mm f/6.3 1/2000s 250 51.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Lanner falcon having a bit of a shufty ILCE-6400 512mm f/6.3 1/2000s 320 51.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Kestrel head on E-M1X 300mm f/4.0 1/2000s 125 51.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Kestrel hovering E-M1X 300mm f/4.0 1/2000s 250 51.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Kestrel cruising E-M1X 300mm f/4.0 1/2000s 320 51.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Kestrel banking at full wing stretch E-M1X 300mm f/4.0 1/2000s 320 51.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Kestrel pottering about E-M1X 300mm f/4.0 1/2000s 500 51.2073°N, 1.5645°W
Kestrel at low level E-M1X 300mm f/4.0 1/2000s 1600 51.2073°N, 1.5645°W

For camera settings, techniques and equipment used in shoots like this, see the Technique posts on mcaughtry.photo.