The pair showed up on 13th March & were checking out the nest - here's hoping..............
Have posted all I've taken today, unedited, as I'm so excited!!! They both flew off & now Mr Kestrel has returned to nest & sitting, waiting like a spider in the middle of a web! Just going to video him
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Thanks OT ... you probably don't realize that this nest was a 'gift' being situated directly opposite my lounge double doors ... I moved to a mobile home in a disused chalk quarry in 2006 & the Kestrels had been nesting here for at least four years before that but I never had a decent cam until 2012 when I started to chart their progress!
What a good time I've had but they went off before nesting last year & didn't return! I just keep my fingers crossed that they will be back!
Great pics, I don't know how you do it. every time I point a camera in anythings direction it buggers off.
Captive subjects IanF, helps when they're tied to a nest with chicks to feed!! Alas none this year!!
Well wendy you sure know how to take wildlife, what great photo's really love this Kestrel like he was posing for you. form Yas
Thanks Has, this was a gift of enormous value & had a great couple of years charting their lives especially being able to rescue the abandoned chick & seeing him through to fledging!
Really miss the constancy of having a nesting pair even though it was hard work at times keeping up with them but there are still Kestrels around me that I can watch hunting prey!
The nest became quite obscured & was lucky enough to have an intrepid neighbour chop back the wild cherry branches ... & same guy is going to clear away branches hanging over telegraphy pole where they eat ... Hope they will come back one day!
Hi Wendy
What great pictures you must be so pleased when they came out, well done, from yas
I was sooo pleased to get my first decent camera in 2012 which enabled me to start properly recording the Kestrels!
Sorry that my Google text keeps changing your name to 'Has' ... don't always see it before I've posted ... Google's interference drives me nuts!!!!!
It looks like a brown rat Wendy, just white underparts. I am reading this 3 years after it was posted - such a fascinating read, great documentation!
My Gallery
"Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way." John Muir
Absolutely marvellous. You must have a good camera and a lot of patience.
Angela Jane Wilson
Had eight long-tailed tits at the birdfeeder yesterday. No photos as camera is not good enough.
Belated thanks Marina, missed your post!