Kestrels at Sheepcote Valley

A blazing hot afternoon, and a mini-trek over Sheepcote Valley in search of kestrels. They made it easy. I spotted the first one as I drove in to the empty(!) car park. It was perched on the fence, having hopped over from the road side as I drove in. There’s an odd colour cast on this shot, but I like the business of it all, and it was the first shot of the day.

Kestrel at Sheepcote Valley
Male kestrel perched on wooden post at the Sheepcote Valley car park

This next one is altogether more conventional…

Kestrel in flight under blue sky
Kestrel in flight under blue sky

It was out hunting, and between perches picked up a small snack (a speckled bush cricket, I think).

Kestrel at with speckled bush cricket
Kestrel at with speckled bush cricket
Kestrel eating
Kestrel eating

The young male eventually flew off into the distance. A female then appeared, perched along the fencing that runs between the fields and the local golf course.

Female kestrel at Sheepcote Valley
Female kestrel at Sheepcote Valley
Brown on beige
Brown on beige
Note the brown head (as opposed to the grey of the male)
Note the brown head (as opposed to the grey of the male)
Kestrel cruising over the golf course at Sheepcote Valley
Kestrel cruising over the golf course at Sheepcote Valley

The heat got to me. I headed back to the car. Andthere he was again. The young male perched on a street lamp.

Kestrel perched on street lamp
Kestrel perched on street lamp
Back to watching from a handy perch
Back to watching from a handy perch

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

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This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Aurora J Stone

    27 Aug 2015

    Stunning photos.

    1. Words

      28 Aug 2015

      Aurora, thanks! 🙂

  2. Darko

    27 Aug 2015

    Probably one of the most beautiful birds of prey, to me at least. We don’t have them in Canada but there are quite few of them in Serbia.

    1. Words

      28 Aug 2015

      Darko, they are such pretty birds. There is a North American variant of the kestrel, but I’m not sure of its range.

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