I've been watching and photographing this female Kestrel for some time now, and seen her hunting technique at close quarters. She hunts using trees and bushes to capture her prey, never hovers, at any stage, just drops ...glides.....and stalls onto her prey item.
Up till now she's predominantly gone for caterpillars, grubs, beetles etc...plenty around in the warm weather. But now, as the weather cools down and invertebrates become scarce, she has had to target small mammals. Trickier and not so numerous.
I was very lucky to get a series of shots, with her taking this vole, but, every time I look at this shot I can't help feeling a hint of sadness looking at that little voles face.....just me...??
Nikon d500....300mm f4 pf.....f 4.5.....1/1600th sec....iso 200.
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