Bird behaviour

Birds of prey rely heavily on the direction of the wind for flight. They’re happier flying into the wind as this gives them the uplift they need to keep steady. As such, position yourself upwind to capture them head-on. A moment before bigger birds land they tend to spread their wings and softly swoop to the ground, which is a good time to try to capture them as they’ll be easier to keep sharp, and more photogenic. Again, wind plays a part as they prefer to take off and land into the wind, so position yourself upwind. And if you intend to photograph wild birds of prey, they’re most active when hunting at dawn or dusk.