Swarovski 80HD Nikon CP990

Location

Kestrel

Falco tinnunculus 34cm

The Kestrel is probably Britain's best known bird of prey and its commonest falcon. Most of us have seen them hovering over road side verges where they hunt for small rodents and large insects.

Kestrels will also take larger prey occasionally. I was lucky enough to see a Kestrel take down a feral pigeon in mid air, and descend into the River Sow, right in front of the Tesco supermarket in Stafford last summer, in full view of a number of astonished shoppers. After a few moments struggle, the Kestrel realised it had become the centre of attention and flew off leaving the bedraggled pigeon flapping around in the water.

The tree lined hedgerow at Belvide Reservoir makes an ideal vantage point used by several species of rapters, including Kestrels.