Nankeen Kestrel

Photography for me is a lot about luck. I'm mostly looking down for plants and I don't have the patience to wait in a bird hide, or even to wait at all.

But sometimes you're there and the bird is there and you get a good shot.

I’ve seen plenty of better photos of a Nankeen Kestrel, but this one is mine. That means I can remember the day, and the sun, and how there was a big squall of rain just waiting to burst down on us. Add the smell and the sounds of the bush, and it's not just the photo! It’s the whole experience.

Why are there so many of us who love taking photos of birds?

• First published August 23, 2020.

• Update 2021 - Funny story: When I took this photo I had yet to develop good version control for images. I managed to reduce the image suitable for publishing on a website and then delete the original. So I can’t print this image on anything other than a beer coaster.