Kestrel feeding

We were about 400 yards from the end of a five mile walk through the Downs today when we came across a lone kestrel perched on a fence post. We approached slowly. It flew down to post further along. This happened a couple of times, but each time I managed to get a little closer. What follows comes with a caution if you're squeamish. This is just a small selection.

Kestrel on a fence post

It darted down on to the path ahead of us. It had something at its feet.

It looked up. I froze.

And then to my astonishment it started to feed.

I think the prey may be a mouse.

Not easy to tell what it has though.

Whatever it is, it certainly stretches…

Finishing off…

And away

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This Post Has 13 Comments

  1. SittingFox

    17 Jun 2007

    Great pictures! Not sure what the prey is either :confused: At the UEA the kestrels hunt rabbit kits but this looks somewhat smaller.

  2. Words

    17 Jun 2007

    I wondered about a young rabbit. Very possible given their numbers.

  3. gdare

    17 Jun 2007

    What an opportunity!!! And kestrel froze too, probably he thought you will try to take his food away from him 🙂

  4. anonymous

    17 Jun 2007

    Mick macey writes:

    Brilliant sequence of shots, they may be 1 of our more common raptors, but they still give great entertainment. Mick

  5. Dudley

    18 Jun 2007

    Great captures!

  6. anonymous

    18 Jun 2007

    Zachary writes:

    A serendipitous sequence!! I like the photo where the kestrel is reeling up to get the stringy piece to seperate.

  7. Flying Red Fox Blog

    18 Jun 2007

    They are fantastic shots, well done 😀 You should put some on the springwatch website they will love them too!

  8. Words

    18 Jun 2007

    Thanks! It was fascinating to watch and that stretchy one is one of my favourites as well!

    I'll take a look over at Springwatch. I've not been there this year. Thanks for the pointer Mark.

  9. Words

    18 Jun 2007

    Just a quick update. From another site I post on the suggestion is that the prey is a vole, one of the kestrel's staple food sources.

  10. musickna

    19 Jun 2007

    Beautiful photostory! Must have been fascinating to watch. 🙂

  11. anonymous

    20 Jun 2007

    Silvershark writes:

    Wow what a great set of photos! Talk about being in the right place at the right time! 😀

  12. saito

    23 Jun 2007

    Thanks for the great pictures!

  13. volkuro

    23 Jun 2007

    Wow! Well done :up:

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