Otto and I walked down past the isolated building were the kestrels are nesting yesterday and were privileged to see an adult feeding the chicks. It’s pretty unusual to be able to do this unconcealed & from the ground too.
In recent years the birds have moved from a big, raggedy nest in a nearby Ash into the building itself, probably to avoid egg-thieving Magpies. They now access the nest, in the ‘tallet’ (a hay-loft in Devonish) on a pile of ancient hay, via a six-inch hole in the front barge boards. We first came across the adult precariously hanging from the entrance rim. From a distance, seeing the barred markings I thought at first it was a woodpecker but she popped in, leaving her long, unmistakable tail outside. The tail was pulled in, she withdrew and a chick was then perfectly framed by the circular hole. Fluffy dark grey and a lot less handsome than Gonzo, it gratefully gulped the proffered morsel. We left them to it, but will go by for a peek again today.
Next day the adult kestrels weren’t around so I crept into the barn and peered up at the nest site. I couldn’t see anything but as I was leaving a barn owl flew out, passing a few feet over my head. It was, as usual, snowy white but had dark chocolate markings which I haven’t seen before: a beautiful ghost.
