![Female American Kestrel - Pat Ulrich Wildlife Photography](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vTHaZv4UmOqzgdjx47Ua4_9Yhb87GYzw0A34OqLAoVjhKJFbJPLIWcCV5q5UDpsJawXZR7YQpvDnPNS3oChin5sXZLee9ITYy7x2rdf0c-8KBkmhyMKeLQQ7YiI8fa9Dl2yA=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_tzFxEe8K3gB1v7iA3rH-tbZ1faukkebGOLngeJajCMTrlsbYXhWbb239apsjlswkcTTPn8laN9jZiizJvwF8_zfT3uXbo7VsQFrq5S2AB7lcdfDX4iFNsHU63q2368A0WVGQ=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_tBkFAePH8kABRe3mHVeXu0Mi_cZ4XkiWtJwiUWEJlv6wpwvFNzKJg3sWL_GklxwjlXEC6fgPdOwV9--Uzjagcnd2jSbKrsqic1c-CxH8N7nS3jZW2E6YiMzOMRqlAQ2D_Rvg=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!