This morning while I was inhaling my nebulized antibiotics, I had a few heart-stopping seconds. I saw the kestrel who lives in the old oak tree in the field at the far end of the garden. He was flying over the garden when suddenly he dived into the big golden conifer, about two feet from the top, flushed a bird out – a starling, I think – and chasing it in flight up the garden. It all happened so quickly, I was not sure I had really seen it.
The poor starling didn’t have much chance. Although it tried evasive maneuvers, the kestrel was right on its tail the whole time. As the starling flew over the arch at the front of the garden the kestrel seemed to cover it with his body, flying directly above the starling. Then the kestrel dropped slightly and still in fast flight captured the starling in its talons, and made for the nearest tree where it proceeded to pluck its prey.
I have often watched the kestrel flying over the garden and seen him in apparent motion swoop and take a bird from the lawn, but to see this capture in flight was something new and remarkable.
