Kestrel caching food. (1 Viewer)

Watched a kestrel caching a vole today, never seen the behaviour before and managed to get some photo's. Interesting I thought.

Nice thing to have observed and a very nice set of photos. The closest I've come to seeing and photographing anything similar was a few years ago and involved your bird's American cousin (see the photo for details).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fugl/2103617735/in/set-72157602221155793/

A vole is quite a load for a Kestrel to carry.

Many years ago while driving home from work on a rural road I saw a Kestrel take off in front of my car from the roads edge. [There were many Kestrels in this area; I would see them often sitting on the telephone wires.] He had a small field mouse in his talons. He (it was a male) was laboring to get altitude and I swerved my car to avoid him but he flew into my left front fender. I stopped the car and found him dead with the mouse on the edge of the road. A beautiful bird! I have felt bad about the accident ever since but I don't think I could have avoided it.

Bob

What an interesting set of behavioural photos, paulst. That must have been fascinating to watch. Thanks.