It’s been awhile since I posted, and I’ve been hesitant to upload this long set of picture.
It’s not that I can’t edit them down to say just a few, but each carries a different aspect of the story.
So it’s publish, or perish.
+D4, our Ballarat-based granddie invited us up for a weekend, promising all sorts of picture opportunities. And it has to be said—delivering.
Toward the end of the day, he took us to a new housing estate area to look at a pair of nesting Black-shouldered Kites, and as we needed to be back in time for a meal were making our way through the partially built houses, when EE exclaimed, “Kestrel”. And there she was sitting on a street lamp, hunting for small insects, spiders and crickets among the grasses between the houses.
The late evening light broke through the clouds and the bird, which had been working the area while the tradies had been busy all day, was not fussed by a couple of photographers getting in the way.
Time just rolled away, as did the images on to the memory cards. I lost count of the strikes, but each one was short glide from security fence, street light, or dumper bin, into the grass.
There are a lot of shots here, and I partly apologise, but if I cut it down to just the stars of the show, then the magic of the moment would be lost.
Needless to say
Dinner did not seem so exciting
Enjoy
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 
Oh David, what a fabulous series of shots! It must have been wonderful to watch her and to be so close.
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A beautiful series David, I love the flight shots with the head positioned upwards and that blank stare, which I often deem a lonely stare. You captured the detail of the patterning so well in both landing and flight shots. They are masters of aeronautics the way they maneuver by positioning their wings in so many positions automatically. Certainly a good call by your granddie.
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A brilliant series, David! Glad you posted them all so we, too, can enjoy the moment with you!
Certainly a great day out for you!
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Kestrels are a favourite bird
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Amazing pictures!
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Incognito
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A beautiful series; I’m glad you didn’t try to edit the series (but I hope your wife wasn’t too upset that you were late for Dinner…!!!).
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This is a real feast for the eyes, David! I see Kestrels only very occasionally and it’s usually a very fleeting encounter. Thanks for sharing this unabbreviated edition.
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