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Having had a few dull and damp days recently, today dawned bright and sunny. However the incoming tide before lunch brought with it its usual shower. Not deterred, we set off down the Lonning and were gratified to see the sun struggling through. We had a quick look through the screen overlooking the...

Going west from London, either M4 past Reading, or M40 near Oxford, there is plenty of raptors flying high above the motorway. Driving is not the most comfortable position for bird id I could imagine, and I am rather a bad birdwatcher, but considering rather broad and apparently fingered wings, I used...

Whenever I have tried to get a photo of a Kestrel, it is hovering somewhere up above me and really tricky to focus and get the exposure right. Today, I saw this Kestrel looking very sleepy on a post and it allowed me to get really close - what a difference it makes!

Hello, I’ll start my first blog by introducing myself - I’m Adam, a volunteer reserve assistant here at Saltholme where I help the team to keep the reserve in tip top condition for wildlife. I’ve been involved with a wide variety of tasks so far like clearing the vegetation from...

Like a few others, I was lucky enough to get some free time Saturday to enjoy the glorious weather although I have to say that after about four hours my hands were completely numb and I couldn't press the shutter on the camera - time for the fingerless gloves to reappear before I go out again. As...

Today was very wet and windy on the reserve with the odd hail shower added for good measure, but the wildlife (birds especially) definitely made up for it. Views from Sandgrounder's out across the marsh were difficult first thing but eight European white fronted geese were spotted in amongst the...

This Kestrel was caught with his lunch last week. Pretty sure that it was a mouse of some sort as it had a long tail but the front half had already been eaten by this immature male bird! Mmmmm.... tasty! John Ainsworth by me

Hi everyone, We're lucky to have quite a few different birds of prey at Saltholme. At this time of year, we get regular appearances from peregrines , merlins , sparrowhawks and marsh harriers . It's the kestrels that are the stars of the show, though, and they're also the easiest to see...

This Sunday we have the second of our guided bird id walks that follows on from September’s walk in which we looked at bird song and behaviour. This time round we’ll be taking a particular look at winter migrants to Dove S tone. Fieldfares have just started to arrive at Dove Stone....

I'm back from a fabulous holiday - a week in Cornwall and a week in Worcestershire, and I want to share some pics I took on a visit to an otter and wildlife sanctuary in Cornwall. I hope you don't get bored - there are a lot of them!! Apart from British and Asian Otters being cared for, there...

Hi John, this is a kestrel, have a look at the links to compare the kestrel and the merlin .

September 2011 Photo Diary The evocative 'pink pink' was first heard on the 15th, over the Reserve ... returning skeins of Pinkfeet were subsequently seen during the following days. 1st September Rained early but became very warm as sun came out in the afternoon. The saltmarsh...

hello folks, went through both of these today as usual on my daily walk and saw Jays,a tree creeper,nuthatch,robins ,very interesting places to see birds, a peregrine falcon swooped across the woods very low and fast ,all the pigeons feeding on the grass scattered,saw a kestrel hovering then he stooped...

Wow, thanks everyone for your comment so far, if you are still deliberating then take your time, it's a tough ask! I've finally narrowed it down to 5 so here goes! Swift - Guaranteed to get me gazing skywards every May on the look out for the first ones back! Kestrel - Especially...

As I was about to leave Marshside today I thought I'll just check the saltmarsh from the end of the sand works. I'm glad i did! First was a Peregrine perched up, then a buzzard also perched up, then a Marsh Harrier flying/hunting over the marsh and then a Kestrel also hunting. But the best...

I set off to count butterflies without any great expectations. First spot of the day was a buzzard heading off into the distance while shouting. There were a few Speckled woods trying to warm up. The cider harvest is looking good I had to watch my step a bit Then it was up off to the...

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Here is Ken Croft's latest write-up: "The month started with two Green Sandpipers, one of which remained until the 4th, three Spotted Flycatchers were present on the 1st and a juvenile Bullfinch fed with the Linnet flock. The next day new migrants were a Lesser Whitethroat and a Grasshopper...

After the spat the female flew up and landed 6/7' away from me and sat posing for about 30 seconds. Glad the shots came out as they did.

An extended moment! - we have a pair of kestrels nesting in a garden Douglas Fir tree. They have three chicks, now fully fledged but refusing to leave home! To see them exercising on the edge of their nest and adjacent tree branch is breathtaking.

My moment was watching I think a Kestrel having its breakfast in my back garden, unfortunately the flash was on auto and slightly spoilt the photo by backlighting the window, the bird left as soon as the door opened and took took the remains with it

I was walking through Yateley Park in Hants when this Kestrel flew down on to the post of a fence. He sat quite still as I edged as near as I dare to take this photo. I was so amazed and I’d like to share this moment of joy with you

I WAS TOTALLY AMAZED TO SEE A KESTREL TAKING A LONG BATH IN MY BACK GARDEN.IT WAS TAKING IT'S TIME AND BATHED FOR FIVE MINUTES

Our usual path and there above the pastures hovered the Kestrel, we stood in awe and then over the copse on the hill ahead swooped two Buzzards mewing to each other and riding the thermals with ease,our elation and joy at such a wonderful scene.

Saw a kestrel perched on a rooftop over the wall in the neighbouring garden, preening itself. With my binoculars (X7 only) I could see so clearly its beautiful tawny chestnut coloured plumage on its back. The closest I'd got to one yet!

Can you see be behind the sunflower...

Not too often you see one of these in the garden