Category Archives: Kestrel

Woods Mill Kestrels

May 3, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

It’s been a long time since I’ve featured kestrels, so this makes a nice break from those boring short-eared owls (only joking!). I took this sequence at Woods Mill, the headquarters of Sussex Wildlife Trust. The photos show what I assume is a juvenile being provided with a tasty vole by an adult male. The juvenile then flies off with the treat.

kestrel feeding

Adult perches on the roof of the nest box. The juvenile gets active.

kestrel feeding

Getting a better look

kestrel feeding

The juvenile makes a short hop to the roof.

kestrel feeding

Lunch changes hand (or beak)

kestrel feeding

And it’s the perfect kestrel take-away!

As for the owls… this is how boring they are 😉

short-eared owl

Close-up of a short-eared owl at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

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

Also posted in Bird of Prey, owl Tagged , , |

Catching Up – Variety Post

April 8, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

I’ve become consistently inconsistent in my posting, partly due to fewer opportunities to spend time out with the camera but also because I am becoming a touch more picky about what I do post. Anyway, here’s a selection from the first week of April (8 days a week?)

I spotted this skylark on a fencepost at Sheepcote Valley on my way in to work.

April 1st – I spotted this skylark on a fencepost at Sheepcote Valley on my way in to work.

Kestrels over Moulsecoomb, Brighton

Lunchtime – a pair of Kestrels over Moulsecoomb, University of Brighton

The first photo of a fox in the garden for quite some time. I was pleased despite the poor angle.

April 3rd – The first photo of a fox in the garden for quite some time. I was pleased despite the poor angle.

Nicked-ear fox

April 4th – another encounter with a garden fox

Yellowhammer

April 7th – a very pretty Yellowhammer at Sheepcote Valley

Today - a Fulmar at Rottingdean Cliffs

Today – a Fulmar at Rottingdean Cliffs, taken at lunchtime

Short-eared owl

And after several missed attempts, a short-eared owl this morning at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

short-eared owl

Final shot for today – one of the owls flying over the edge of the golf course.

Camera note: all daytime photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens. Fox taken with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Also posted in Bird of Prey, Birds, owl Tagged , , , , , |

Kestrel at Seaford

January 13, 2016 by Words | 4 Comments

After a very fallow period, things looked up today. Ok, I pushed them a bit by going in to work via Falmer. Sunrise is just about at the right time for me now to get morning views like this as the sun rises behind the South Downs.

Sunrise at Falmer Village, East Sussex

Sunrise at Falmer Village, East Sussex

I even chanced upon a cormorant as it was flying in…

Cormorant at Falmer, East Sussex

Cormorant at Falmer, East Sussex

The main sequence, however, came later in the day as I headed over to Eastbourne at lunchtime. The drive was punctuated by the sight of kestrels hovering over hedgerows. In most cases I had no choice but to continue driving, but I spotted a female kestrel as I entered Seaford. I parked up, and took this sequence.

Female kestrel at Seaford, East Sussex

Female kestrel perching on a shed at Seaford, East Sussex

Female kestrel at Seaford, East Sussex

Female kestrel at Seaford, East Sussex

Female kestrel at Seaford, East Sussex

Female kestrel at Seaford, East Sussex

Hopefully I’ll get more opportunities (helped if the weather stays fine), but it’s nice to be getting some shots again.

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

Also posted in Bird of Prey, water birds, Wildlife Tagged , |