More sunshine today (it won’t last, but I’ll enjoy it while it’s there), and a quick walk across Sheepcote Valley this morning where the skylarks were enjoying the dry weather. Skylarks are true birds of the field, nesting on the ground among the long grass and crops. Changes in arable farming have, in recent years, disrupted breeding sites and skylarks are now red-listed, indicating that their numbers are in steep decline.

Skylark resting in grass at Sheepcote Valley

Skylark in flight

Skylark is flight with wings raised

The other field bird today is the kestrel. Their interest in fields is for nesting, but for feeding on small mammals (voles) and large insects (crickets). I spotted this one at lunchtime on the downland behind Moulsecoomb in Brighton. It was busy hunting, and I caught this sequence as it dropped low to skim across the fields.

Kestrel (male) at Moulsecoomb, Brighton

It’s not my best sequence, but the kestrels seem to be a regular feature so if the weather holds I may do better.

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.