Over the years I've spent a lot of time staring up into the sky to watch kestrels, but a walk along the cliffs south of Dawdon on the Durham coast at the weekend provided a wonderful opportunity to look down on one for a change.
We were standing almost directly behind it, on the edge of the cliff, and it was so intent at hunting something in the grass on a ledge on the cliff face that it ignored us, so we could watch every minute adjustment of its feathers as to effortlessly held position in a stiff north-easterly breeze.
Eventually it lowered its talons and stooped on its prey, carrying it off to its nest site further along the coast.
Posts
Great shots from a unique perspective. Thanks for posting them. :)
ReplyDeleteKestrels may be a lot smaller than many birds of prey but they're beautiful birds. Like you Phil, I've only ever seen them from below before so it's lovely to get a close-up view of it from above. Its markings are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteSuper shots Phil
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful experience. Great shots.
ReplyDeleteThanks Frank, this is always a great spot for watching kestrels but this was the first time I'd seen them from this angle...
ReplyDeleteBrilliant Phil. Not often we see the patterns on top of the wings.
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley, I'm always surprised at how small they are when you see them perched .... if they didn't hunt by hovering they'd be easy to overlook..
ReplyDeleteHi John,
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd had a proper telephoto lens with me - I'd gone there to photograph butterflies, so this was with a 180mm. macro lens
Thanks Threadspider, these cliffs are a good spot for watching fulmars too -
ReplyDeleteHi John, it really is a beautifully mottled pattern...
ReplyDeleteCracking set of shots Phil. Great to be there right with him while he hunts.
ReplyDeleteHi Keith, I never tire of watching the precise control they have over flight - truely wonderful..
ReplyDelete