Tag Archives: kestrel

Preening Kestrel

November 22, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

For the first time in quite a while I spent some proper time over at Sheepcote Valley, adjacent to Brighton Racecourse at the top of the South Downs. It was muddy and cold, but the sun was just about beating out the threatening cloud cover and the wind was low. A near perfect November afternoon. All I needed was a good subject. Cue a cooperative male kestrel.

I’d spotted him as I was driving up the hill and after a few grabbed shots of him on street lamps, he headed over to a quiet corner of the valley and perched on an old industrial pipe and proceeded to preen himself. I manoeuvred around him to get some blue sky in the background.

Kestrel (male) at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Kestrel (male) at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Kestrel (male) at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Keeping a keen eye on the horizon

Kestrel (male) at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Time to preen

Kestrel (male) at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

A good preeening!

Kestrel (male) at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Followed by a quick fluff

Kestrel (male) at Sheepcote Valley, Brighton

Sorted!

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

Posted in Bird of Prey, Kestrel, Wildlife

More Kestrel Antics

October 27, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

I enjoyed another good lunchtime display from the local kestrel. I do enjoy this being literally outside my window, even if I do have to scramble up a slope to get a decent position. Anyway, I first spotted the kestrel (female) being mobbed by a corvid combination of crow and magpie.

Kestrel being mobbed by a magpie and crow at Watts Bank, University of Brighton

Kestrel being mobbed by a magpie and crow at Watts Bank, University of Brighton

They managed to drive the kestrel off, but 20 minutes later she was back, calmly ignoring the circling herring gulls while it hovered over the thick undergrowth.

Kestrel at Watts Bank, University of Brighton

Kestrel at Watts Bank, University of Brighton

Well maybe not so calmly… 😉

Kestrel defecating...

Kestrel defecating…

The last little sequence shows some nice variation in wing position as the kestrel battled against the wind.

Wings tight to body

Wings tight to body

Wings open wide

Wings open wide

The half-fold

The half-fold

And the forward curve

And the forward curve

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

Posted in Bird of Prey

Field Birds

October 8, 2015 by Words | 2 Comments

More sunshine today (it won’t last, but I’ll enjoy it while it’s there), and a quick walk across Sheepcote Valley this morning where the skylarks were enjoying the dry weather. Skylarks are true birds of the field, nesting on the ground among the long grass and crops. Changes in arable farming have, in recent years, disrupted breeding sites and skylarks are now red-listed, indicating that their numbers are in steep decline.

Skylark resting in grass at Sheepcote Valley

Skylark resting in grass at Sheepcote Valley

Skylark in flight

Skylark in flight

Skylark is flight with wings raised

Skylark is flight with wings raised

The other field bird today is the kestrel. Their interest in fields is for nesting, but for feeding on small mammals (voles) and large insects (crickets). I spotted this one at lunchtime on the downland behind Moulsecoomb in Brighton. It was busy hunting, and I caught this sequence as it dropped low to skim across the fields.

Kestrel (male) at Moulsecoomb, Brighton

Kestrel (male) at Moulsecoomb, Brighton

kestrel

kestrel

kestrel

It’s not my best sequence, but the kestrels seem to be a regular feature so if the weather holds I may do better.

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

Posted in Bird of Prey, Birds Also tagged |