![Female American Kestrel - Pat Ulrich Wildlife Photography](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vrorjxxbwa_o9arDU5SQO-GbPxjXVXEwSkA8vVQ-r6XKW4BRzuu_hEaNQ2F3V--4_NlGb-rWwb5B-eydHIlD4F_hnmUOdmL_sRVkZevzamULU8dSZzhHL7fGHnn1nzjSBvTQ=s0-d)
I had an amazing trip to Point Reyes National Seashore on Saturday. When I went to sleep the night before, the forecast was calling for 30% chance of rain, but by the time I woke up at 5:25 am, it had been increased to 50%. I was too excited about actually getting out in the morning to be deterred, but I quickly thought it might have been a mistake as it started pouring just as I was driving into the park. Thankfully though, the worst of the rain lasted for only the first hour after sunrise, and a nice overcast sky was left behind for the rest of the morning.
![American Kestrel in Point Reyes National Seashore - Pat Ulrich Wildlife Photography](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sdoGZjv-C__mLvTAZtLF4KCIbNf-8uxaJ8pSjigI9ECIYnwZCjO10m0B86E6ayp0uu_3D6KdoxS_AmAciWdAOsBF_jv2kJnXdJ_nZ7qGV08pySzhWify4L7t66pA86zXBaIA=s0-d)
While I didn't really see any wildlife while it was raining, I saw a lot of species after it stopped. I guess it was the first time that it was dry for a few days, and the animals were ready to find a meal. I found this lovely female kestrel on a fence post along Pierce Point Road as I was driving back from the Tule Elk Reserve on Tomales Point. I love to see these small and gorgeous birds of prey, but I've never really had a good look at one, since they always fly off long before I get close, and certainly before I can get my lens on one. This particular bird was feeling generous though, and gave me at least 5 good minutes of her time before heading off to a fencepost that was further back in the landscape.
![Kestrel showing talons - Pat Ulrich Wildlife Photography](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_v0GK5trpDCY9Y0sifkqpB2F2c_Sdr87DM-3L_HNdIJjqLHXHrgtHiQyeaw2AClKhTyyMaQyGJeWqb-4-0BR4dYxZl8ZVAlygoCghWiAvce6qPkKYGnwChVEVo4BWApNQWL0w=s0-d)
What a treat to get to photograph this lovely bird at such close range! This post has a selection of shots from the perch she took where I had the sky as a backdrop, and I have a few others to put up in another post with a green hillside as the background.
Submitted to the
World Bird Wednesday blog meme -- follow the link to check out this week's submissions!