Kestrel mobbed by… kestrel

By Words | Published October 18, 2009

After all the recent mobbing posts by UKWildlife, I came across my own version of the game today. This time it was a kestrel being mobbed by a… kestrel. I was a long way off and so the photos aren't up to much but you'll get the picture.

And if that wasn't enough, a few minutes later a kestrel turned on a crow…

Not a wise move…

Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.

This entry was posted in Bird of Prey and tagged .

16 Comments

  1. gdare October 19, 2009 at 5:10 am #

    😆 That kestrel must be very territorial 😛 Not wise to fight with a local bully (crow) 😀

  2. Cynthia23 October 19, 2009 at 2:10 pm #

    WOW! What dancing!! :headbang: Great captures WORDS!

  3. SittingFox October 19, 2009 at 8:10 pm #

    Wow, someone got up on the wrong side of the perch! :knight: Extraordinary!

  4. anonymous October 19, 2009 at 8:10 pm #

    TBR writes:

    I love your in-flight shots Words, and you sell yourself short here -these are marvellous!
    I have photographed (on flickr) a mob-shot myself – heron versus crow – not really in your league though!
    http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4018346565&size=large
    TBR

  5. anonymous October 19, 2009 at 8:10 pm #

    TBR writes:

    I love your in-flight shots Words, and you sell yourself short here -these are marvellous!
    I have photographed (on flickr) a mob-shot myself – heron versus crow – not really in your league though!
    http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4018346565&size=large
    TBR

  6. anonymous October 19, 2009 at 8:10 pm #

    TBR writes:

    Sausage fingers.
    Sorry!

  7. Words October 19, 2009 at 9:10 pm #

    Adele, I think that's the first time I've seen kestrels do anything like that in what must be hundreds of hours watching them over the past few years. I somehow expect it of buzzards.

  8. Words October 19, 2009 at 9:10 pm #

    Darko, yes I guess they were squabbling over feeding rights.

  9. Words October 19, 2009 at 9:10 pm #

    Doug, just took a look at your Flickr page of the heron. Great shots, and stunning colours.

  10. Words October 19, 2009 at 9:10 pm #

    Cynthia, thanks!

  11. Ukwildlife October 19, 2009 at 11:10 pm #

    Great photos – what is it with raptor mobbing at the moment – perhaps its a bit of migration and abit of pre winter "this is my patch"

  12. Words October 19, 2009 at 11:10 pm #

    Neil, could be. Food must be more difficult to hunt in winter (shorter days) so getting a good spot must be all the more important. Plus juveniles will be spreading their wings. Foxes get into plenty of territorial scrapes at this time of year as they play musical chairs with good den sites.

  13. Flying Red Fox Blog October 24, 2009 at 10:10 am #

    An aerial dual very good catch :yes: The Seagulls at Worthing were doing that when i threw bread for them last Saturday, although it looked like a rugby tackle when they all jump on the person with the ball! 😆

  14. Words October 24, 2009 at 1:10 pm #

    LOL at the seagulls! They really do squabble among themselves if there's food about

  15. chthoniid October 28, 2009 at 2:10 am #

    Great interaction, but oh to be closer to the squabble with camera. 🙂

  16. Words October 29, 2009 at 12:10 am #

    Brendan, yes just a touch too distant, but I did at least have the right lens with me.