I was over at Sheepcote Valley this afternoon. It was quiet, but towards the end of the afternoon I spied a kestrel hunting over a field. It was a little too far off for classic hovering shots, but it had other tricks up its sleeve. This kestrel could certainly do the classic hover…
What it really excelled at though was swooping. These are two brief sequences from several long dives it made. The first is a relatively shallow swoop.
The second sequence is much faster and steeper. I lost sight of it in the grass as it closed on its prey.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
13 Comments
Words, great capture!
Wow, you can tell that it was sure a pray is down there :eyes:
Unusual series. I wonder if anyone has measured how fast their swoop is, compared to, say, a peregrine.
I saw a prairie falcon here yesterday but it certainly didn't want to hang around for a picture :right:
Air resistance is more significant to kestrels than to peregrines, because the kestrel is so small in comparison … they're both falcons, though, and when they stoop, it's plenty fast. I believe the peregrines are supposed to be capable of the fastest stoop of all birds, but someone is going to have to check on that. That second series is a classic stoop, but I'm not at all sure what kind of comparison the swoop would make.
Terns (and other sea birds) stoop on their prey, too, and look like naval artillery fire when they splash in, but I'm not sure it's ordinarily called a "stoop".
WOW! very 😎 series :up:
TBR writes:
This may be a better link actually?
http://youtu.be/xnEwrlmfVBk
TBR writes:
Superb series of photos (of course!) Paul – thanks for sharing.
I was lucky enough to capture a little clip of a kestrel falcon mobbing one of the local pair of little owls during the weekend (with an HD trail camera) if you'd like to have a gander…?
http://www.dmackdimages.co.uk/blog/2012/3/-operation-noctua-end-of-week-5—hd-video-of-kestrel-mobbing-owl
Adele, I don't know the speed kestrels reach, but while it was quick I doubt it comes close to a peregrine.
Darko, I couldn't see what it got, but it was certainly determined to get whatever it was.
Doug, that's an excellent video sequence you've got! And great quality too.
dW, I believe you're correct that the peregrine is the fastest of all birds when in full stoop. The kestrel doesn't really compare, but then it's aiming at ground prey rather than mid-air prey. It makes sense for it to be a touch more cautious about speed! The second sequence is only the second time I've seen a full stoop by a kestrel. More commonly they tend just to drop on their prey.
Robin, thanks!
Sami, thanks!