Raptor Wednesday

The male of the local pair. One hell of an efficient bird-killer. These pictures were taken through the window at some distance, but you get the idea. This is the female kestrel going after a Red-tailed Hawk who made the mistake of cruising through the neighborhood. She chased the big buteo high above the park. Loudly!

On Monday, it rained all afternoon. Both of these falcons were out and about, getting absolutely soaked, but they do have young to feed and neither rain nor whatever else can get in the way of that. So, even after a good soaking Monday, they both bathed yesterday. Apres le bain, grooming. This lintel is out of the wind. When you watch these birds long enough, you see how they get tossed all over by the wind when they perch out in the open. Now add a House Sparrow in the talons to the mix. It becomes quite a dance of balance to hold the prey, maintain a perch on a narrow pipe edge, and pluck.