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Image-of-the-Day by Subject
Birds - Kestrel Page 29
Image Taken on 04 Oct 2010
at 16:12 Image of day on 24 Nov 2010
A portrait of our new local female Kestrel flying along in the distance.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20101124_df1_20101004_1612_045 female kestrel in flight 1 of 4 (crop @ 768)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 21 Feb 2015
at 15:12 Image of day on 05 Apr 2015
This female Kestrel took off from an 11KV power pole crossbar and
flew a series of curves that took her close to us. We captured
this sequence over about one third of a second here accurately
montaged against clouds (which are out of this montage crop).
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20150405_df2_20150221_1512_148-150 kestrel in flight 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage @7fps)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 04 Oct 2010
at 16:12 Image of day on 24 Nov 2010
This is the next 3 images accurately montaged - we are frequently
surprised how far a bird in full flight goes 'per flap' once it
is in full flight.
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Ref: 20101124_df1_20101004_1612_046-048 female kestrel in flight 2-4 of 4 (accurate montage @ 7 fps))(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 24 May 2015
at 13:08 Image of day on 26 Jul 2015
After a brief hover this Kestrel flew off to the left just under
the height of the wires (accurate montage at7 fps).
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20150726_df3_20150524_1308_441-447 kestrel in flight against trees 01-07 of 11 (accurate montage @7fps)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Jan 2025
at 10:59 Image of day on 09 Feb 2025
Final departure.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20250209_d72_20250103_1059_028-035 kestrel in flight from spoil heap 1-8 of 8 (accurate montage @8fps)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 27 Nov 2008
at 10:51 Image of day on 14 Dec 2008
A Kestrel flew about overhead. No doubt any mice out of their
holes bolted to cover.
.jpg)
Ref: 20081214_dc1_20081127_1051_049 kestrel in flight overhead(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Jul 2012
at 17:44 Image of day on 17 Aug 2012
We think this must be our unusual male Kestrel (with lightly
barred tail) finally moulting to proper male colours as you can
see from his messy tail.
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Ref: 20120817_df1_20120705_1744_178-180 kestrel in moult flying by glancing at camera 1-3 of 3 (horizontally compressed montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 04 Sep 2019
at 18:44 Image of day on 29 Oct 2019
The (probably) juvenile Kestrel looking for places to hunt has made a
number of visits to us, here including the meadow Post.
On this occasion a single image of the Kestrel was replaced (while the
camera was re-cycling) by this gorgeous male Sparrowhawk.
 displaced by sparrowhawk harassed by kestrel 19 of 26 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20191029_d01_20190904_1844_054+1849_096_fb6 kestrel juvenile (q) displaced by sparrowhawk harassed by kestrel 19 of 26 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 04 Sep 2019
at 08:13 Image of day on 29 Oct 2019
What we think must be a juvenile Kestrel has made several appearances while
establishing a hunting territory.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20191029_d01_20190904_0813_003+004+0815_007+0816_009_fb6 kestrel juvenile 4 minute visit to meadow post 1-4 of 4 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 30 Nov 2014
at 12:24 Image of day on 18 Jan 2015
A look at the tail suggests that this is a Juvenile male Kestrel starting
to moult into adult colours. He was hovering (into the wind as always -
hence the bird's name 'Windhover') to our North West with the sun to the
South (it was about mid-day). From about 100 frames we selected the
best few and from them constructed this little impression.
 hovering (selected) 1+4+7 of 8 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20150118_df2_20141130_1224_031+037+064 kestrel juvenile male (q) hovering (selected) 1+4+7 of 8 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 03 Dec 2014
at 11:06 Image of day on 19 Jan 2015
We first saw this Kestrel high over one of our Black Poplar trees
as we walked up the path over the meadow. Judging by the
disapproving stare, we had just disturbed his hunt.
 in flight over meadow 1 of 4 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20150119_df2_20141203_1106_150 kestrel juvenile male (q) in flight over meadow 1 of 4 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 24 Jul 2011
at 09:08 Image of day on 08 Sep 2011
In the morning around 9 a.m. our moulting juvenile male Kestrel
caught a rodent somewhere and flew right by us with it. We
expected him to vanish into the distance, but the just moled
field had a half metre high lump of clay about 50m from us which
it landed on, battled a bit with the prey, and finally ate it.
Here is our impression.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20110908_df1_20110724_0908_117+139+157 kestrel juvenile male flying by with rodent in talons then landing to eat it 02+07+12 of 13 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 24 Jul 2011
at 19:32 Image of day on 10 Sep 2011
A couple of hours later he was back on the post, this time having a preen that lasted
about 30 minutes in the lowering sunlight. Here is a little impression 'photo booth' style.
This was taken using a fixed tripod and long-lens setup though and open window
about 50m from the pole.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20110910_d01_20110724_1932_171-1939_293 kestrel juvenile male preening on top of disused telephone pole 09+12+15+27 of 27 (montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 24 Jul 2011
at 17:51 Image of day on 10 Sep 2011
We surprised this moulting juvenile male kestrel (and him us) on
the top of a quite new but now disused telephone pole on our
South boundary. He watched us for a few seconds, realised we were
not going away, and decided to quietly leave himself. You get a
good view of his crazy mix of juvenile and adult tail feathers.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20110910_df1_20110724_1751_227+229 kestrel juvenile male taking off from disused telephone pole top 1+3 of 3 (accurate montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Jul 2011
at 17:18 Image of day on 16 Aug 2011
On the ground we have frequently watched the kestrel struggling to subdue prey.
Whatever he caught has always eaten on the spot and out of our view.
 2 of 9 (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20110816_df1_20110702_1718_419 kestrel killing prey on cut dead grass (discontinuous) 2 of 9 (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 28 Oct 2024
at 12:18 Image of day on 01 Dec 2024
This Kestrel flew about 15 metres from a disused telephone pole to this post carrying
our mains supply cables.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20241201_r70_20241028_1218_010-013 kestrel landing on mains power pole 1-4 of 4 (accurate montage @8fps)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 28 Oct 2024
at 12:18 Image of day on 01 Dec 2024
A closer look at the second moment from the left.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20241201_r70_20241028_1218_011 kestrel landing on mains power pole 2 of 4 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Oct 2024
at 16:06 Image of day on 01 Dec 2024
A few hours later another landing by the current regular Kestrel.
The wind direction must have changed to land facing the camera.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20241201_d01_20241025_1606_059+060_fb6 kestrel landing on meadow post (montage over 500ms)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 25 Oct 2024
at 12:44 Image of day on 01 Dec 2024
Our confusingly gendered Kestrel lands on the meadow post.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20241201_d01_20241025_1244_043+044_fb6 kestrel landing on meadow post (same scale montage over 500ms)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 26 Feb 2024
at 11:22 Image of day on 21 Mar 2024
This Kestrel seem to be landing into a strong north wind (from the left).
Read this right to left.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20240321_d01_20240226_1122_023+024+1123_025_fb6 kestrel lands on meadow post (montage over 500ms & 60 secs)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
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