Observations on Kestrel hunting technique

[Tursiops2]

Twice, recently, I've seen juvenile Kestrels behaving "out-of-character" and using the hunting strategies of other species.

The first is a bird at Landguard which has adopted the "hedge-hopping" technique of a Sparrowhawk. It seems to be resident there, and the local prey species are reacting to it just as if it was a Sparrowhawk - I've seen it a few times, trailed by flocks of agitated Meadow Pipits or Linnets. The second, last week, was a bird at Trimley Marshes which clearly thought it was a Hobby by the way it was chasing dragonflies.

I suppose it's impossible to say whether this is just the natural experimentation of young birds, or direct imitation of the species concerned, but one can see how, if either Sparrowhawk or Hobby became extinct, natural selection might start working on the Kestrel template to fill the vacant niches.

T2

[Morph]

Funny isn't it, just a few weeks ago I was at Ogden Clough on the edge of the Pennines when I saw what I thought was a Merlin skimming down the hillside after Meadow Pipits, but that turned out to be a Kestrel also.

[diggleken]

very interesting obs T2!
Birds dont always stick to the field guides rules!
Sparrowhawks have a habit of hovering sometimes, thinking they are Kestrels - It will be good to have any other variations in behaviour brought out by this thread.
nice one
Ken

[epops]

theres a sparrow hawk over at alton water i seen a few times that takes to hovering like a kestrel

[Rob_D]

Very interesting. I would assume that each species would prefer using hunting techniques for which is was best adapted physiologically? Are Merlin and Sprawk much faster than Kestrel, so they are better at chasing small birds? Are Sprawks less flexible in the wings so hovering takes more effort?

Perhaps the differences are quite small and a fast Kestrel is just as good as a slow Sprawk?

[Ukwildlifeo]

I recently sawa juvenile kestrel that was very confiding (I found out when a group of ramblers charged past me keeping a safe distance and then charged past it (only one actually seemed to notice it even though it was less than 3m from them!). So I got a bit closer and it was using a owl like technique of swooping down from a post into a field of long grass before returning to the post, and later one even nearer to me. Was a fnatastic sight

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Morph

Funny isn't it, just a few weeks ago I was at Ogden Clough on the edge of the Pennines when I saw what I thought was a Merlin skimming down the hillside after Meadow Pipits, but that turned out to be a Kestrel also.

I don't know if it is the same Ogden I regularly visit (I know at least two Ogdens in the South Pennines and I'm sure there are more!), but I have seen Kestrels doing just what you describe. Other notable Kestrel antics include one chasing a butterfly on the coast at Pendeen in Cornwall and one swooping on a House Martin (it missed).

Regards, Chris

[Morph]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

I don't know if it is the same Ogden I regularly visit (I know at least two Ogdens in the South Pennines and I'm sure there are more!), but I have seen Kestrels doing just what you describe. Other notable Kestrel antics include one chasing a butterfly on the coast at Pendeen in Cornwall and one swooping on a House Martin (it missed).

Regards, Chris

The Ogden Clough I visit is just of the A628 Woodhead Pass. I have also heard of an Ogden Reservoir further north somewhere.

[diggleken]

Some others? Ogden clough ascends Pendle Hill, Ogden reservoir at Newhey between Rochdale and Oldham is a good site for wildlife and Ogden clough above Mottram cutting links Swineshaw res area with Chew res, over wild moorland - there will be others!

[The Woodman]

More Kestrel behaviour - was on the end of the Mull of Galloway three weeks ago and watching a hunting kestrel at close quarters around the lighthouse area. Saw it catch two voles and fly to just below the top of the cliff behind the restaurant and stash the voles down a hole. Reported this to the RSPB warden on site and he came across to see it do it again from the balcony of the restaurant. He'd never come across this behaviour before.