I took this sequence early this morning at Sheepcote Valley. The light was poor, and there was a hint of rain in the air. The sighting though was one of the best I've had of a kestrel with prey. This greatly truncated photo sequence begins with the kestrel emerging from the undergrowth with the unlucky shrew firmly in its grip.
The kestrel (a male) flew about 100 yards with its catch and came down on an open path.
I crouched down and settled to watch. For those interested in the technical details, the camera was set at ISO 800 on manual mode at f/7.1 and the shutter varying between 1/250s and 1/320s. The following shots are a somewhat visceral, so turn away now if you don't like such things. 
The complete sequence from first to final shot lasted some 7 minutes. The kestrel was unusually bold, perhaps particularly ravenous (first meal of the day?) and not only ignored me but also a walker who had to circle around it.
I also shot some video which I'll edit and upload over the next couple of days.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
RobinL
6 May 2011Wow, Words, excellent series of shots!
He certainlymade short work of the shrew. A very pretty bird
wellisteffi
6 May 2011Breathtaking images. :eyes: :up:
anonymous
6 May 2011Firefox writes:
WOWOWOWOWOWOW! amazing shot paul!
gdare
6 May 2011That flying photo reminded me on Eric`s photo of fillet with fish in it`s claws 😆
SittingFox
6 May 2011I'm impressed with the clarity of the photos, especially shooting at ISO 800!
I know that people always say that foxes don't eat shrews, but do you know of any scientific data to back that up? Anyway, they clearly have one effective predator.
ICU109
6 May 2011the turning of the shrew. ha
studio41
7 May 2011:eyes: wow! these images are striking- love the ones, I must say, without the prey- however all are great documentaries! my girls and I watched a bald eagle feast on his dinner after flying it to a tree. we stood quite far below, however- didn't have your bird's eye view (no pun intended! 😀 )
Ukwildlife
7 May 2011Cracking shots!
hörnchen
7 May 2011DIRK.
Words
7 May 2011Robin, thanks! They are incredibly efficient once they've got the wrapping off!
Words
7 May 2011Kathy, thanks! Turning of… and 'taming' too!
Words
7 May 2011Dirk, thanks! 😀
Words
7 May 2011Adele, I quite often go up to ISO 800 (sometime higher). Other than the issues of foul-tasting glands I've not got any direct info either way on whether foxes take them. The Mammal Society does cite foxes as predators though.
Words
7 May 2011Steffi, thanks!
Words
7 May 2011Jill, I wanted to include a couple of less graphic shots in there, but it's fascinating to see moments like this. A bald eagle with prey must be something very special to see.
ICU109
7 May 2011you got it, G !
Words
7 May 2011Darko, I'm not sure it competes with some of the birds-with-fish shots I've seen here, but I was pleased that it showed enough to confirm that the catch was a shrew.
Words
7 May 2011Erwin, thanks!
Words
7 May 2011Neil, thanks!
Words
7 May 2011Firefox, thanks!
studio41
8 May 2011Originally posted by Words:
here is the bald eagle pausing and looking at me taking pictures:
http://twitpic.com/4q1kew
Words
9 May 2011Jill, thanks for the link! Great sighting :up:
studio41
9 May 2011thank you for having a look! it was an interesting place to be at that moment!
IlikeMovie
11 May 2011Amazing photos and… poor mouse….((
Words
12 May 2011GoodMan, thanks!
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Wonderful Shots…..:up: