Kes

The last few days have seen a reawakening of the hedges, garden and fields around us. It has been notable how birds that have been absent have reappeared, active and evidently stocking up. Included in this are the kestrel pair that hunt around Ashby St Mary; today the male came down to the meadow opposite us to hunt. In lieu of his normal perch of telegraph poles, he used the trees across from our house, allowing me to get some shots:

Although kestrels are known for their extraordinary ability to hover, it is clearly less draining to perch watching the grass for a tasty vole!