Allotments 4 All

Produce => Wildlife forum => Topic started by: prink13 on March 27, 2008, 21:44:24

Title: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: prink13 on March 27, 2008, 21:44:24
Some of you may remember my post earlier in the year about a female or juvenile kestrel killing a dove in my chicken run:

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,38002.0.html

Well, she's done it again. We were told that it is very rare sight to see a kestrel take such a large bird, but she seems to be quite happy doing it, managed to get some good pics again and she still looks as beautiful!
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Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: lorna on March 27, 2008, 22:18:54
Fantastic photos Kathi, as you say a beautiful bird. Shame about the dove.
Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: ninnyscrops on March 27, 2008, 22:22:09
Great pictures - but 'tis the wildlife way
Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: star on March 27, 2008, 22:34:54
Lovely pics Prink,

Its not very often you see kestrels standing still. Well caught ;)
Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: springbok on March 27, 2008, 22:48:01
a rare sight, and such a beauty.

Thank you for sharing them with us :D
Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: prink13 on March 27, 2008, 23:59:06
We saw her sat there as we went out to do our shopping, and over an hour later, she was still sat in the same spot, but now with only half a dove!!! :o

She was actually there for about 2 and a half hours

Kathi
Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: aromatic on March 28, 2008, 00:33:20
 ;D Prink13, the pictures are fabulous!! I have never seen a kestrel so close up... you were highly honoured... (shame about the pigeon though....the reality of wildlife!!) We now have the privilege of watching buzzards soaring in the sky. The buzzards appeared last summer and they seem to be very happy in this area. They also now appear to be successfully breeding. They are fascinating to watch as they glide in the sky on the thermals......

(http://www.animated-gifs.eu/birds-of-prey/0024.gif)
Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: DenBee on March 28, 2008, 06:51:41
Brilliant photos.

We have kites in the Derwent valley next to where we live.  One day last year we noticed the remains of a pigeon in our garden.  We thought a cat had got it, but our neighbour told us she had spotted a kite over our garden.  I do wish I'd seen it.

One amusing part of it was when I went into work and told our receptionist the pigeon had been killed by a kite.  "Oh dear", she asked, "did it get caught up in the strings?"  ;D
Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: prink13 on March 28, 2008, 09:33:20
Thanks for the praise of the photos, wasn't difficult as she just sat there until we got to about 5 feet away!

DenBee-I love your story about the kite - lol  ;D
Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 28, 2008, 17:15:10
Kites wouldn't normally kill pigeons either, but after seing a kestrel which kills doves, who's to say?
Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: redimp on March 28, 2008, 17:23:22
Kites don't have very strong legs as they are scavengers (so don't need strong gripping legs and feet) so they cannot really kill anything unless it too is very small.  The Kite probably happened upon and already dead pigeon.
Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: DenBee on March 28, 2008, 17:30:36
Or maybe it strangled it with the strings?  ;D

I'm not going to argue with anyone about this one - I wasn't there.  Honest guv.  ;)
Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: Baccy Man on March 28, 2008, 17:43:23
There are loads of kites round here & their diet is mainly roadkill, rodents & baby birds.
Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: GrannieAnnie on March 29, 2008, 23:46:17
those are amazing pictures and to think you were so close to the kestrel without it becoming alarmed.

Title: Re: Killer Kestrel Strikes Again!!
Post by: Paulines7 on April 01, 2008, 16:47:45
Lovely pictures Kathi, at least it's keeping the numbers down of those cooing doves and not going for the small songbirds.   

We are overrun with doves here and they wake me up every morning as they sit on the tiles making their awful cooing sounds.  I will have to get myself a kestrel, I think.

 ;D ;D
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