Kestrels in the morning sun…

One of the true delights of living in the South Downs are the kestrels, and this morning I stopped off at Sheepcote Valley. It's a great site for watching them as they hover over the tangle of grasses and brambles, and sweep back and forth from one vantage point to the next., systematically covering the ground. These shots are of a female kestrel.

The morning sunshine didn't last out the day, and by this afternoon we were back with grey skies and scant light. Not that the starlings mind too much. A small flock of 100 or so gathered in a tree at the end of our garden. These next two shots were taken at deliberately low shutter speeds (1/125s and 1/160s) in an attempt to catch a sense of the flock's motion rather than the fine detail of individual birds.

This evening we're once again shrouded in mist (one of the disadvantages of being high in the Downs). The foxes are being evasive. I can hear some chattering calls nearby, but I've not seen them. But I have been looking in the pond. I mentioned in yesterday's post that I'd seen a newt. I had better luck with the camera tonight. Good to see these beautiful amphibians back again after the harsh winter.


Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all kestrel and starling shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens. The newts were photographed with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.

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This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. 7Wellis

    17 Jan 2011

    Hi, good morning, how did you take the photos in the water? With a filtre? Beautiful.

  2. gdare

    17 Jan 2011

    Kestrel saw something on the ground :eyes: And the she saw you 😀

    Nice photo of flying starlings :up:

  3. Words

    17 Jan 2011

    7Wellis, the newt photos were just taken using a standard flash unit. The camera stays above the water. I angle the shot to avoid flash reflections. Mostly it works fine, but you obviously miss on a few shots.

  4. Words

    17 Jan 2011

    Darko, fortunately the kestrels tend to ignore people (we're too big!), otherwise I would have been in trouble! I was pleased with the starling photos too. 🙂

  5. Words

    17 Jan 2011

    Erwin, thanks!

  6. Words

    17 Jan 2011

    Lois, as I think is fairly obvious I really enjoy watching kestrels. Their ability to hover always fascinates me. The tiny adjustments and the totally stationary flight is remarkable. Starlings really are best understood as a blur when they move like that. I should look for larger gatherings (there are some locally).

  7. cakkleberrylane

    17 Jan 2011

    The kestrels are so graceful and beautiful, wonderful shots of them as you always do. Good choice on the slow shutter speed for the starlings. What an amzing effect! Lovely newt!

  8. SittingFox

    18 Jan 2011

    Nice to see the kestrels again! I haven't seen any around here for a while :right:

    And my fox sightings have also nosedived. If it's a frosty weekend I might try a mid-morning hike to see if I can find one.

  9. Words

    18 Jan 2011

    Adele, the weather has been so poor lately that I'd hardly been down there to look for them. Nice to have such a helpful subject! I'm hoping for some decent weather (today was good!).

  10. serola

    19 Jan 2011

    Just wonderful! :wizard:

  11. gonzalotravieso

    19 Jan 2011

    Originally posted by gdare:

    Nice photo of flying starlings

    I agree. Grey days can be good too!

  12. Words

    19 Jan 2011

    Darko, grey can be great for some shots, but I prefer life in colour 😉

  13. Words

    19 Jan 2011

    Sami, thanks!

  14. Wulpen

    19 Oct 2012

    Great Photos

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