kestrel falco tinnunculus

A young bird I think. There was a least one family at Tkern last weekend. Quite a few Hobbys too and a Peregrine that was too far off for decent pictures. We had a great time. Lots of great birds including 6 Great White Egrets and a young Golden Eagle that flew low over the car on the way home.

... I left him in peace to hunt at any rate. Not that he seemed disturbed. Hope I see this cooperative bird again next Easter when it's time to visit my sister-in-law.

Nearly reached the end of this series now. Just one more I want to post.

Moving to a new spot for hunting.

Still more to come but I'll vary them.

I suspect this is the same obliging Kestrel that I photographed eating a lizard a year previously. A very tolerant bird at any rate. Expect some more from this series. :-) Off to Lake Tkern tomorrow morning and hoping for Bearded Tits and Marsh Harriers and maybe a Bittern or 2 with luck. :-)

This was taken at RSPB Rainham Marshes, Essex where the kestrels can be easy to approach. I am told they often perch and wait for a Short-eared owl and then try to steal its catch.

It was the first time I could get so close to the bird. Quite before it took of I could take the photo. All was due to the excellent skill of my wife to drive the car in the near of the bird.

This is the last of this series.

Busy eating a lizard and not too happy about being disturbed. Not bothered enough to fly off though.

I took this picture from the parking outside the office, using the car roof as support.

This one landed gracefully some 50 meters from me.

Walking back to the parked car I nearly failed in spotting this one, her plumage perfectly blending in with the autunm colored leaves.

I spent a lot of time photographing Kestrels soaring over the clifftops with not a great deal to show for it.

Wish it had chosen a more natural perch. :-)