Falco tinnunculus
April 27, 2001: Marine Terrace, East Lothian, Scotland
While I’ve seen these before, mostly along the roadsides from the car, this is the first one I’m actually documenting as having seen from the yard.
April 29, 2001: Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve, East Lothian, Scotland
I finally had a better sighting of this bird, having only previously seen them hovering at the roadside. I got a nice look at this one (probably a female) through the scope as she kited over the fields. It wasn’t as close a look as I might have liked but definitely enough to know that she was a kestrel, and seen through binoculars and the scope.
May 12, 2001: Ferry Meadows, Cambridgeshire, England
Midday/sunny. While we were driving, we spotted several kestrels kiting along the roadside.
May 14, 2001: Sandwich & Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve, Kent, England
Had my best view yet of a gorgeous male kestrel as he perched on a wire next to the road. I could really see the warm color on his back and his steel gray head. Wonderful!
May 16, 2001: Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France
We saw several kestrels kiting at the sides of the highway while driving on a rainy day through northern France.
May 17, 2001: Capel Fleet Raptor Viewpoint, Kent, England
May 21, 2001: Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve, East Lothian, Scotland
April 6, 2002: Aberlady Bay Local Nature Reserve, East Lothian, Scotland
November 2, 2002: Lake District National Park, Cumbria, England
Saw several kestrels on this trip – I realize that I haven’t seen one in ages, so was surprised to see so many. I imagine they’ve been here all along – I just haven’t been out much lately!
Let me know what you think!