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| Common Kestrel also known as Eurasian Kestrel Niigata City, June -August 2012 |
Been lucky enough to know of kestrels living and nesting at a cement factory along the Shinano River in ever since I've been here. This year they raised just two but other years I have photographed them with 4 or maybe 5. I don't remember exactly although it seemed to be a huge family in the past. (I'll have to find my old photographs) I'm guessing the smaller number this year is due to the eradication of trees along the river -less habitat for food. Also in the past I'd seen them with mice or voles but this year only sparrows for prey.
I just visited them four or five times throughout the summer and got these pics. On the last visit they had been overtaken by both Carrion and Large-billed Crows but they showed great courage trying to chase the much larger birds away. The photos were dull and taken well after 6 in the evening. They're also usually just a bit too far for my 400mm lens to reach and I don't want to go on to the private property.
4 comments:
You always manage some wonderful sightings. I love how clearly her under wing pattern shows in that last shot.
That's such a good thing about living in Niigata. You've got a chance to observe nesting/parenting raptors so often. The fledgling looks so puffy and cute.
Great collection there Russell. The Kestrels are a mixture of the Australian version and a Brown Falcon, well, to my eyes anyway. Cheers, Richard
Lovely series of shots there Russell and I didn't realise the European Kestrel occured so far east. Looks exactly like the habitat they often occupy here too. I'm always surprised as to why large corvids give Kestrels a hard time but as your pictures show, they invariably do.
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