This particular site I’ve known about for a few years now, a good friend Matt told me about it, but everytime I’ve been back the Kestrel’s were nowhere to be seen unfortunately, always having just missed them fledging by a couple of days.
The daty started off quite grey and overcast so I wasn’t intending to actually venture out, howevere Catherine had said she was going to venture out the following day and I couldn’t get out on the Sunday mornign so I just thought oh well head just local for an hour to see what’s about, call in via the Kestrel’s at the church to see if they’re about an dit was quite lucky that I did.
As I arrived at the church I could see the local idiot’s had been after the lead in the roof again, I can’t think of anythign else that makes me feel so angry – yes I know there’s a cost of living crisis going on but robbing a church – please note I am not religous at all but this is just not right….where was I?
Oh back to the story, arriving at the church I noticed the lead had been taken off part of the church roof, I also noticed a young female Kestrel calling out, the female adult flew in delivering a vole I would guess to her youngster, which judging by the noises coming from ther young Female Kestrel was greatfully received.
It was too far away for a shot but I made my way across under some trees, set my tripod up, ploinked the camera on top and watched as the youngster took the vole off to the back of the church. I must admit I was a bit annoyed thinking have I disturbed it, but it wasn’t long before the young Kestrel came back and sat on the church roof shouting feed me once more.
A quick few snaps taken before it left, again to one of the tall trees behind the church.
Standing waiting for the Kestrels to return I turned around to see the two proud parents, hunting over the green corn field, before once again making their way back to the church. I raised my hand to the shutter button in anticipation of them flying to the roof, but instead the female parent made her way to the tree to my right, I looked up to see another kestrel come jumping out and they locked claws and fell down through the tree.
I watched with baited breath as the male juvenile appeared on one of the lower branches and the female flew off round the back of the church. I was happy to see that they were both ok, althoughthe Male Juvenile was a little annoyed as I think it had lost it’s meal.
Now the question I asked myself was dare I move the camera on the tripod to try and get the shot above or do I detatch the camera from the tripod and inch it round slowly to get the picture??? I figured losing the tripod would cause less movement and as I unwound it I could feel my heart beatting faster and thoughts of don’t scare it off going through my head.
I inched hte camera around, very slowly and luckily the bird was still there, I grabbed around 5 shots in burst mode before it flew off. reviewiug the images on the camera I knew I was going to be happy with this one, but equally know until it’s loaded onto a computer you never can quite tell.
Hopefully you all like the image as much as me!
