Kestrels close to home
The joys of spotting kestrels
Shortly after leaving university, I was asked in a job application: “What makes you passionate about your local environment?”
I have a habit of answering application and interview questions in a way that I think the hirers want me to answer, rather than how I would naturally answer. But the words just flowed for this one.
To summarise my answer, I’m passionate about my local environment because I’ve gotten to know it. I’ve spent so much time observing it that I’ve seen things that I never would have if I was merely passing by.
I’m sure anyone reading this who appreciates wildlife-watching near their home can relate. The areas you frequent the most become like an old friend. You know it’s personality, it’s quirks. And just like with an old friend, when you visit you wonder what might be new, but you never doubt that it’ll be a pleasant visit.
Just after I got into birding, but before I got my first camera, I was walking through a field near where I lived and this kestrel landed just beside the path in front of me - not even 10 ft away. I froze and waited for it to fly off. But when it was still there nearly a minute later, I scrambled to take a video on my battered iPhone 6 camera - I’ll spare you the blurry screenshots.
I didn’t know much about birds back then, but there was excitement in comparing that blurry image to bird guides and pictures online to figure out what it was. After realising it was a kestrel and reflecting on the photo opportunity I missed out on, that night I bought a camera.
The European Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
The European kestrel is a small, nimble falcon found across parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, occasionally reaching the east coast of North America. They hunt in open spaces with long grass and utilise their ability to see UV light to help them.
Kestrels, like many other birds, have special cells in their retinas that are sensitive to UV wavelengths. This type of cell allows them to detect UV light that is invisible to the human eye. Rodents such as voles - a common delicacy in the kestrel diet - mark pathways through their habitats with urine which reflects UV light. These trails appear to glow brightly to kestrels. This allows them to easily track their prey while they soar above fields and detect areas that have high densities of rodents. Genius!
Since the first time I saw a kestrel, I’ve often been out in my local fields in the hope of finding one, but usually, I return home with more pictures of robins than I know what to do with. But last year, I was on my way back from what was a lovely but rather uneventful walk when I noticed a shadowy figure swoop across the golf course neighbouring the trail I was on. I inched as close as I could to the tree it was in without running the risk of trespassing or getting killed by a golf ball. This was what I managed.
I was glad to have finally gotten a picture but I wasn’t satisfied with this one, and I was eager to get a better one. So a few weeks ago I set out to Hampstead Heath with my partner (who seems to have become just as enthusiastic about bird spotting as myself) in an attempt to find one.
As we reached the top of a hill, our attention was drawn to two birds fighting in a tree. One was a crow for sure, but it wasn’t till I saw a flash of light brown that I knew the other was a kestrel. They tussled for a few more moments (not enough time to pull the camera out) and then it was gone. But we were determined to get a decent shot, and so we watched and waited.
A few minutes later, it flew to the top of a tree, as if it knew how desperate we were to see it. I am pleased to say I am much prouder of these pictures than my 2023 attempt. But even if I hadn’t got a picture, seeing kestrels always fills me with inexplicable excitement.
The European kestrel is also known as the common kestrel. They may be common, but I don’t see them that often, so when I do it makes my day. I’m grateful that even after spending countless days in the same fields, there are always some rare moments like these to cherish.
What makes you passionate about your local environment?
I love kestrels! They may be the 'common kestrel' but they're not as common as they used to be, so they're even more magnificent than they were when I first saw them.
I love them, beautiful birds 😊