Wednesday 31 March 2010

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)











I was fortunate enough to see this Kestrel perched atop a tree in a pasture on the road leading down to Snettisham Beach. Having grabbed some shots from the car I managed to get out and cross the road, get some more shots and then move slightly closer down the fence line and for once it did not fly off!

This is a male and was sat at the very top on a slender perch. The bird was actually swaying quite dramatically in the wind so the outcome is quite satisfying. All handheld.

The male and female Kestrels are of similar size the main difference being in the pattern on the wings and the male has a bluish grey head and red-brown upperparts whilst the female has a brown head and tail.

8 comments:

Chris said...

Wow Mike,
This is gorgeous! How fortunate you were, he took the pose!! Beautiful shots!

Linda Yarrow said...

Good pictures Mike! It's great he hung on for you:)

Bob Bushell said...

Those are tremendous pictures, I can only get the female in decent form. Mike, your a genius.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Great captures, so glad it did not fly off before you were able to get these, very nice each one~

David Lovell said...

HIya, nice shots. I have some pics here of what I think are a male and a female hawk of some sort, they were sitting in our back garden yesterday, http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158449&id=317900897701. second and third pictures. (sorry about the link). If you know what they are please take a look.

David Lovell said...

HIya, nice shots. I have some pics here of what I think are a male and a female hawk of some sort, they were sitting in our back garden yesterday, http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158449&id=317900897701. second and third pictures. (sorry about the link). If you know what they are please take a look.

Anonymous said...

Beautifully clear shots under the circumstances Mike.

Mike Randall Bird Photography said...

Thanks all.
David, I failed the facebook registartion process last night!
Will try again and hopefully take a look.
Mike