Our kestrel parents have been doing a good job keeping their chicks fed. Watching the adults hunt in the recent stormy weather really exemplifies their hovering skills. Despite being buffeted by the wind their heads remained fixed, focused on searching for their prey, all the while their wings and tail continually adjust to the constant changes in wind direction and speed.
Looking at them in an action through the telescope in the Visitor Centre one cannot help but marvel at the ‘windhover’ in action. As a result, all five chicks are still doing well. They are now quite big and with their flight feathers replacing their fluffy down and exercising their wings. The nest box is getting quite crowded and they are getting inquisitive of the outside world, taking to sitting on the edge of the box entrance to look out.