I love to visit Badbury Rings. Today was a chill 4 degrees. The sky was cloudless. The sun was low even though it was close to noon, casting long shadows. The kestrel landed in a tree, but I was on the wrong side. The bird was silhouetted against the sun. I carefully changed position, hoping not to spook it. It was a male bird, slightly smaller than the female, but slightly more colourful. I was rewarded with a series of photos with the sun illuminating the glorious colours: chestnut brown, grey, black and yellow.
Suddenly, the kestrel launched itself out of the tree into the open sky.
The low sun lit up the side of the kestrel including parts of the outstreched underparts of the wings. Its ferocious yellow talons were clearly visible. It swept slowly over the farmland, stopping periodicaly to hover over a particular patch.
The electricity pylons that run alongside Longham Lakes are hard to miss, but they do not over power (pardon the pun) the beauty of the landscape or the wildlife which just accept their presence.
Little EgretMale Kestrel – taking a breakCormorants drying out
Even though it is close to mid day, this is December and the heat emanating from the Sun, low in a clear blue sky, is insufficient to melt the ice and frost pictured here.
The woodland path draws us in and the light quality, so different from mid summer, is bright and dazzling with long shadows and silhouettes.
A kestrel rests patiently in a leafless, deciduous tree before taking to the air and circling its territory once again in search of the next meal.
FrostWoodland pathLow Sun in the late morning sky Male kestrelMale kestrel
Miggy, the cat, unimpressed with the flooded garden
It really did not look promising. The back garden was under water and the rain did not look like it was going to stop, ever. A pyjama day with the TV remote in one hand and a snack in the other was the most likely scenario. But, the forecast offered a glimmer of hope. Filled more with hope than confidence in the met office prediction my son and I headed out on a 20 minute drive to Stanpit Marsh.
We arrived and the rain stopped! A lot more of the nature reserve was under water than usual. It was difficult to see where the land finished and Christchurch harbour started. The light was both fascinating and challenging. There was cloud cover one moment followed by bright sunshine casting long shadows. Every photo needed a different set up and we were fighting with the controls all afternoon.
We were rewarded with a joyous two and a half hours of exploring the accessible parts of the reserve. We saw waders, egrets, herons, ducks, geese, pipits, wagtails, sparrowhawks, kestrels. It was noticeable too, I don’t think I imagined it, that the birds were noisier than usual.
Back at the car park we compared sightings with another birdwatcher. He used binoculars rather than a camera and was enthusiastic to hear what we had seen. He had seen a hen harrier, which we missed. We had both heard reports of a glossy ibis on the reserve, but neither of us got a sighting this time.
Satisfied, we got back in the car and headed home. We got as far as the first roundabout a few hundred yards and I had to turn on the windscreen wipers as the heavens opened again.
Redshank wadingMeadow Pipit in a soggy meadowPintail takeoff against a backdrop of redundant beach hutsTeal in tandemSparrowhawk causing panic among the smaller birdsCurlew landing – a very distinctive callLittle Egret – gentle descentBrent geese – take offMale Kestrel – competing with the SparrowhawkOystercatchers walking (do these birds fly?)Oystercatchers flying (oh yes, they do – always together)
November 2020. The weather is overcast, with an occasional ray of sunshine peeping through the cloud cover. The wind is blowing with the sea looking decidedly choppy. Several cruise ships are just visible at anchor in the bay off Hengistbury Head. The car park is full. People taking exercise and walking dogs. And then I see her. Absolutely unmistakable hanging in the air no more than 15-20 feet above the grassy bank next to the car park. Fearing that she will be spooked by my presence I walk slowly toward her. She is completely unphased. Her head remains quite still as her wings and tail flutter just enough to keep her motionless in the wind. Her focus is solely on the ground beneath her. She permits herself a momentary glance in my direction, before resuming her search.
Male Kestrel
I absolutely love this photo taken by my son on a visit to Badbury Rings in August 2020. The chestnut brown wings with black tips, the grey head and that beak and black eyes circled in yellow are all so clear. It is the grey head and slightly smaller size that distinguish the male bird from the female. The bird is at rest and is aware of our presence, but allows us time to get this photo.
Male Kestrel on the hunt
Another of my favourite sites is Stanpit Marsh on the other side of Christchurch Harbour from Hengistbury Head. On a visit in October 2020 this male kestrel was the star turn. He was on the hunt and very nearly caught this stonechat, but not quite.
The Common Kestrel is the UK’s second most populous bird of prey, behind the Common Buzzard. There are 46,000 in the UK. They are usually seen practising their party piece – hovering over rough grassland in search of small mammals or birds.
Kestrel being harassed by a RookRook chasing Kestrel Kestrel hovering over coastal grassland
The Kestrel is a small bird of prey (32-35cm), but not quite as small as its cousin, the American Kestrel.
Stephen's Wildlife 