Kestrel

"Falco Tinnunculis"

Kestrels are a familiar sight hovering beside a roadside verge or in a field. With head kept dead still and wings beating furiously this amazing bird of prey is a magnificent hunter. It has a long tail and pointed wings and hovers between 33 and 66 feet above the ground.

It is in decline and has been included on the amber list.

Its 32 to 35 cm in length

It has a wingspan of 80cm

It weighs in at between 155 and 250g.

There are around 46,000 breeding pairs in the uk.

The bird in the photo above was hunting on the cliff top above the sea in Tintagel.

Its not often that you are at the same level as they are!

Other occasions I was above and got some lovely photos of the upper wing patterns.