Woods Mill Kestrels

We headed back to Woods Mill today. It's about two weeks since we were last there and I hoped to see the kestrels, or more specifically their chicks.

It took a while, but the afternoon was pleasant (not too hot) and there are worse things to do than sit quietly in a field waiting for something to happen. After about 40 minutes, the first adult appeared. It was carrying some prey (a rodent), which it dropped into the nest box.

After the adult had flown, a small head appeared 😀

Some 20 minutes later, another food drop… this time the prey seems to be a small bird.

And then, another head appears…

The chicks are clearly very young, not nearly so advanced as during my trip last year.

There were other sights, of course. I finally managed a shot of an oranged-tipped butterfly. I've not seen as many this year as in previous seasons, but the males are wonderfully distinctive.

And over the stream, the beautiful demoiselles were dancing. This was manually focused at around mid-stream, and then a matter of waiting for something to flash across the viewfinder. I wasted a lot of shots, but it was nice to capture them in flight. Nothing can convey the magic of these damselflies when witnessed first hand.


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Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

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This Post Has 12 Comments

  1. Vulpes vulpes

    6 Jun 2010

    Indeed, a great way to spend an afternoon! Quite a large opening in the kestrel box (also compared to last year's shots). :up:

  2. SittingFox

    7 Jun 2010

    I respect your patience! I tried doing that with an osprey platform in Montana a couple of days ago but couldn't have stayed there for 40 minutes. Well, I would for some species, I suppose.

    Beautiful photos! The orange-tip is lovely.

  3. gdare

    7 Jun 2010

    So, is there one or two chicks there? I guess one, but could be wrong :left:

  4. Words

    8 Jun 2010

    Darko, I'm not sure how many there are. I need to go back in a week or so to check.

  5. Words

    8 Jun 2010

    Thanks Erwin!

  6. Words

    8 Jun 2010

    Adele, I'm not the most patient but it wasn't hard to sit down on the grass in warm sunshine and do nothing for a while 🙂

  7. Words

    8 Jun 2010

    Vulpes, I'll have to head back when they're a little bigger to see what I really think of the new box. I think I preferred the one last year.

  8. cakkleberrylane

    9 Jun 2010

    It's cute to see the one eye peeking over the edge of the box. Your patience was certainly rewarded.

  9. Words

    10 Jun 2010

    Lois, it was frustrating not being able to see more of the chick. I need it to grow a bit.

  10. Ukwildlife

    13 Jun 2010

    great photos. I agree on the demoiselle courtship, its something that has to be witnessed.

  11. Words

    14 Jun 2010

    Neil, thanks! The demoiselles are truly special to see.

  12. Wulpen

    19 Oct 2012

    Beautiful shots

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