Captivating Kestrel Falconry: A Majestic Bird of Prey in Action

This kestrel was filmed by Ranger Tony through his telescope on a windy day in Prinsted last week. It’s remarkable how kestrels manage to hover in mid-air by facing into the wind and making precise adjustments with their wings and tails. This keeps their heads in the same position relative to the ground and allows them to scan for prey below, such as a mouse scampering through grass. In breezy conditions, kestrels can appear almost motionless, but on calmer days without a headwind, they have to

Young common kestrel perched on the ledge of an old stone building, looking around alertly. Natural behaviour of a fledgling bird of prey adapting to an urban nesting site.

The Big Brother Kestrel Box on Cloudforest One | Bernard Pender

The battle for the nesting box is on again! Our camera has been picking up daily visits from barn owl, tawny owl and kestrel, all eyeing up the same nesting box. Almost unbelievably, after last year’s drama (when the stock dove chicks hatched, only to be eaten by the barn owls), the doves are back again and seem pretty focused on settling in 🤷🤦 | Castle Wild Camp