Last week I was walking with my friend and we spotted a Kestrel perched at the top of a pine tree in a neighbour’s garden. We both pointed our cameras at it but alas it flew off just as the shutters were about to be pressed. Although it flew around a bit we had missed our chance at capturing a good photo of it.
Yesterday I was out another walk near the base of the hills. My camera was in its bag as there had just been a stinging hail shower. Seemingly out of nowhere a swift brown raptor flew past me and up into a tree. This time I hurriedly got my camera out of its bag, flung the bag to the ground and rushed at my chance to capture a beautiful female kestrel on the hunt.
Of course just as I was trying to fine tune the focusing she turned her back on me! Female kestrels differ from the males in that they have browner wings and their tail feathers are barred. Also their heads are browner rather than the grey head of the males. The kestrel flew off the branch as I tried to approach round to the side of it, however it then swooped around and hung suspended in the air against a strong north easterly breeze.
I couldn’t believe my luck, and the fact that it stayed so still and focused on hunting down its prey helped me have time to increase shutter speed and focus on my target too!
The markings on a female kestrel are exquisite and if you ever find a kestrel feather it makes an beautiful bookmark.
My kestrel swooped down lower and got out its sharp talons ready to swoop down on her next meal. This would most likely be a vole, mouse or shrew in the grass.
Then suddenly she plummeted down to the ground and GOTCHA! She had caught her next meal, although I couldn’t see what it was.
After a few minutes the kestrel flew away off. I lost sight of her for a while but then she came back overhead and I captured her from a different angle against a wintry patch of blue sky.
Some good captures today for both me and the kestrel!
Sarah's Wildlife Watch 