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The American Kestrel has been spotted a couple of times in and around the garden.
Here it is just after it landing on top of the light pole. We live in the country so don’t have the usual number of street lights that urban areas have. In fact this is the only light on our part of the road just across from the house, which we pay for.
The kestrel has obviously captured some prey and was sitting on the post enjoying a nibble. I cringed a little when I realized he had captured something, thinking it might be a bird or critter that was just visiting my garden, but realize this is a fact of life in Nature. I used to teach kids that prey is the one to use for things hunted by animals or humans as it has a e in for … e for eat! Little tricks that help kids remember and learn.
Nikon P510 – shutter speed 1/400, aperture value 5.1, IOS speed 100, expended to full 42x zoom
Just look at the markings on this bird. I’ve done some research on the kestrel and found it is the smallest falcon in North America. It is a permanent resident in our area where it inhabits open areas and hunts mostly from perches, frequently from hydro poles and wires. It was formerly known as a sparrow hawk and it eats insects and small rodents.
The kestrel also made a stop on the baffle to see if there were any snacks around. The pvc twirler actually looks like it is hanging on the feeder pole in this photo but it is hanging on a tree branch behind the feeders.
ABC Wednesday is up to K. K for kestrels.
I’m also joining Wild Bird Wednesday, I’d Rather B Birdin’ and Saturday’s Critters.
Alphabetical posts
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Country Gal
Lovely photos . Our Sparrow Hawk or Kestrel has been hanging about the trees and feeders in our yard to as he swoops down ever so fast and snaps up his lunch of mice from the field beside us and the birds at the feeders . I feel sorry for our birds as them being at the feeders is like stocking them up as prey for him but nature is nature and it does what it will do regardless . Thanks for sharing .
Daniel LaFrance
Interesting observations and great close-up photos of this beautiful bird.
Stewart M
Great looking birds – I often see Kestrels hunting by the freeways. I makes taking pictures rather hard!
Cheers – Stewart M – Melbourne
Myrtle
It is a beautiful bird, love it’s tail! I do have a problem with seeing an animal or bird eating it’s prey. I’m just think of the poor prey even though I do know this is how it goes for t them to survive.
Roger Green
Handsome critter
Jennifer Jilks
What a great photo opportunity! They are so small and quick! You must have been excited.
ABC Wednesday
Beautiful bird… although I don’t have to see how they catch and eat other living creatures 😉
Have a splendid, ♥-warming ABC-Wednes-day / -week
♫ M e l d y ♪ (ABC-W-team)
Su-sieee! Mac
I remember sparrow hawks being all over the place when I was a kid. Can’t recall the last time I saw one. Kestrel is a more he name for a raptor than sparrow hawk, I suppose. 🙂
Bev Baird
What wonderful pix of this bird – fascinating post about him too!
Veronica
I had a sparrow hawk stop by one day in the patio to check my bird feeding area for ‘snacks’ too….
Eileen Wise
Hello, the Kestrel is a beautiful falcon. I can not imagine having a Kestrel at my feeders. Awesome sighting and photos. Thanks for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend. PS, thank you for the comment and visit to my blog.
Mary Howell Cromer
They work so hard to survive and they are so beautiful~
Anni @ I'd Rather B Birdin'
My goodness…these images are extraordinary!! Thank you so much for linking with us at I’d Rather B Birdin’.