After the dire summer it's a pleasure to say that we are enjoying the occasional bright late autumn day. This afternoon the sight of blue skies encouraged me out to Sheepcote Valley where the kestrels fly. It took me a while to find any, and even then it was difficult to get close. This first shot is a typical hover/hunting pose.
During the summer months they are as likely to pick off crickets as anything else, but as winter approaches the kestrels are reverting to their more traditional fare of small rodents. In this sequence the unlucky prey is, I think, a vole.
The kestrel eventually carried its prey to a distant tree, and then after some minor mobbing by magpies retreated over into the next valley.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
derWandersmann
4 Nov 2012Really nice shots, Words!
Wulpen
4 Nov 2012Just Beautiful…..:up:
serola
5 Nov 2012Good catch… Kestrel
I like the second shot most :hat:
SittingFox
6 Nov 2012I suppose having a vole in the talons must threaten to unbalance their flights, but they handle it superbly.
ICU109
8 Nov 2012got itself a fat rodent there. love kestrels, their diving and swooping. see them a lot around freeways.
Words
10 Nov 2012Sami, yes the kestrel did well.
Words
10 Nov 2012Adele, they're amazingly adept on the wing.
Words
10 Nov 2012dW, thanks!
Words
10 Nov 2012Erwin, thanks!
Words
10 Nov 2012Kathy, kestrels are the most common raptor in these parts, but I never get tired of watching them.
ICU109
18 Dec 2012don't get out much these days, depend on u to bring it on home to me!
Words
19 Dec 2012Kathy, I'll do my best!