Peregrine Falcon at Zmudowski Beach

2/1/07: Once again we feature a shot by Ted Belleza. Here's the story behind the shot:
"I was taking an early morning walk on Zmudowski State Beach toward the mouth of the Pajaro River when I noticed what looked like a raptor perched on a piece of driftwood. When I looked through my telephoto lens, I was pleasantly surprised to see this rare Peregrine Falcon. I was very fortunate to get as close as I did to take numerous exposures before it took off."

Equipment used: Canon EOS 20D; EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS; Hoya UV filter; Manfrotto Bogen 3249 Monopod

Ted is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur with a renewed interest in wildlife photography.