Great to see some blue skies for a few days.
I was photographing a hovering Kestrel today when suddenly another bird flashed in to the viewfinder and disappeared just as quickly. I pressed the shutter and got a few photos which captured the incomer, a male Sparrowhawk, quite nicely.
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| Sparrowhawk and Kestrel |
Kestrels and Sparrowhawks generally appear to get on pretty well together or at least tolerate each others presence so it was unusual today to see a pair of Kestrel in aerial acrobatics with a Sparrowhawk for several minutes today.
The Kestrels looked like an adult pair and the Sparrowhawk a young female so it my just have been high spirits of the youngster that triggered the interaction.
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| Kestrels and Sparrowhawk |
Mixed weather this morning with regular light snow showers and a cold NW wind. Didn't spend much time at Beeley, several Red Grouse but not much else. This Kestrel posed nicely and appeared to be checking a potential nest site.
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| Kestrel |
This Kestrel posed nicely in the gale force winds on the moor this afternoon, the blowing vegetation behind adds to the effect.
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| Kestrel - female |
This male Kestrel had clearly seen something, he was certainly staring very intently as he took off. I think they probably spend more time hunting from the top of a bush than they do using the characteristic hover. Unfortunately it was in the shade but still looks OK.
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| Kestrel - male |
The day started overcast and with steady rain but by late morning the sun was breaking through and by early afternoon clear blue skies. The Great Grey Shrike was around Wraggs Quarry and still parties of Waxwing in Darley Dale.
I watched a shooting party on East Moor which didn't look to be having much success they disturbed very few grouse but did put up a Short-eared Owl several times as they crossed the moor.
This female Kestrel was on the edge of the moor which was more intent on finding its next meal than my photography.
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| Kestrel - female |
We see this male Kestrel on almost every visit to the moor and James has obtained some great photos in the past few weeks but this one really captures its spirit. Many more Swallows around today but it's still cool and last night's moths were a disappointment. A Whimbrel has joined the pre-breeding Curlew flock a species that usually passes straight through overhead.
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| Kestrel - male |
