It’s of no particular interest unless you’re a bird watcher — or birder, as is said these days — but I glanced out my front window during our storm a few days ago and had to rub my eyes. There, sheltering on a ledge, was a kestrel!
No big deal if you’ve seen one. They are supposedly very common. But I’d never seen one and suddenly there was this handsome little guy right outside my window.
Kestrels are North America’s smallest raptor and are a type of falcon. Beautifully marked and colored. And as it happens, raptors are my favorite birds aside from, maybe, cardinals.
My phone was within reach so I went to full zoom and got a couple of shots. Not very good, as you can see. And as I was trying to move closer, he disappeared. Still, his brief appearance on my porch really lifted my spirits. I was sorry to have spooked him off into the storm, with the wind howling and heavy snow coming in almost horizontally, but I’m sure he found another shelter in this neighborhood of homes with porches. Maybe I’ll see him again someday.
My niece named her daughter kestrel because she loves this bird
What a great idea! I think I’m jealous or something.
Her other daughter is named larke )
So pretty!
Nice!
I was so excited. You’d think Santa had come by with a sleigh full of toilet paper.
I recently had the pleasure of a hummingbird nest on the ficus tree on my balcony. It was twins! I felt bereft when the family left. I’m telling myself that the tiny hummingbirds coming to the feeder may be the twins.
They are fascinating birds! I used to watch a live streaming hummingbird cam for hours before it shut down. A man in California had the perfect camera set-up and we could see the eggs in the nest, and the mom coming and going, etc. Apparently the adults keep returning to the old nests every year. Anyway, what a treat to have one right there on your balcony!
WOW!!!
That was my reaction, too!