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Thursday, November 21, 2019

Two small falcons

Most winters we have hosted two or three American Kestrels in our local wetlands preserve. Each has occupied rather distinct foraging/hunting territories along the 1.5 mile stretch of gravel road which runs through the area. All have been males, although some females have passed through. I always welcome their arrival and try to determine the extent of their territories, which they sometimes defend if another kestrel ventures near them. They have had favored roosts, usually high on a utility pole, pine tree or Royal Palm apical shoot. 

The kestrel which occupies the southernmost territory almost always may be found sitting atop the spire of the emerging leaf of one of the Royal Palms which line the road near the entrance. It eats mostly insects, mainly grasshoppers and dragonflies, but also takes amphibians and reptiles such as small lizards, frogs and snakes. It also catches small rodents and songbirds:

American Kestrel 01-20191113

American Kestrel 4-20160202

American Kestrel 20160109

A Northern Mockingbird competes with a kestrel for a dominant perch:

Northern Mockingbird attacks American Kestrel 00-20180201

Male searching for insects among the fruit of a Royal Palm

American Kestrel male on Royal Palm 01-20180205

The other two kestrels tend to range either to the north or south of the lake which is about 3/4 mile north into the preserve. They often come into conflict along the lake shore, with the one whose territory is invaded most deeply usually chasing the other one away from the lake area. The central territory provides a variety of roosts from which its occupant can survey the the stretch of gravel road and its surroundings:

Power distribution lines run along this part of the track. Photos taken on wires disturb some purists, but I will settle for whatever view I can capture:

American Kestrel, male 980x400 20151113

American Kestrel male 3-20151220

American Kestrel preening 20151207

Small trees along the lake shore are also favored:

American Kestrel HDR 20160217

In the northernmost territory, I often find its occupant high on a lightning arrestor pole next to an electrical power sub-station:

American Kestrel 20171118

It also selects the top of one of the tallest trees nearby:

American Kestrel 04-20191106

This particular territory was recently visited by another small falcon, a Merlin, an efficient predator of small to medium-sized birds:

Merlin 04-20191101
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With an average length of about 12 in (31 cm) and wingspan of 25 in (64 cm) the Merlin is slightly larger than the American Kestrel, North America's smallest falcon, which is 10.5 in (27 cm) long and has wings which spread to 23 in (58 cm). The Merlin has a bulkier, muscular appearance and its flight is energetic and direct, while the kestrel seems rather delicate and more buoyant in flight.

American Kestrel in flight:

American Kestrel 03-20180218

Merlin:

Merlin in flight 02-20191031

For several days, both falcons co-existed without signs of conflict:

American Kestrel and Merlin 01-20191101

The Merlin fanned its tail, possibly as a sign of aggression towards a grackle which landed (fearlessly) in an adjacent tree:

Merlin 4200K 01-20191101

The male kestrel's plumage is especially colorful. His steel-blue wings contrast with copper-red tail and topside:

American Kestrel in flight 20180113

American Kestrel male 04-20191101

American Kestrel IL20101108

Nearly all the American Kestrels I have seen and photographed have been males. The female is also quite beautifully marked with barred brown wing coverts and matching back and tail:

American Kestrel female 2-20140301

There was a full Beaver Moon in mid-November as we started  walking out about 40 minutes before sunrise. As usual, my child bride MaryLou was out ahead of me with her flashlight. (62 years ago, on November 22, 1957 I popped the question and we became engaged to marry). The Royal palms stand out against the dark sky in the southernmost winter territory of the kestrel:

Full Beaver Moon COREL 03-20191112

The Beaver Moon shines over the lake which is the zone of conflict between the north and central territories of the American Kestrels:

Beaver Moon looking west 20191113

Zebra heliconian, Florida's State  Butterfly on Firebush (Hamelia patens) flower:

Zebra heliconian 20191112


= = =  = = =  = = = =  = = = = =

Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Our World Tuesday by Lady Fi

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue

Linking to ALL SEASONS by Jesh

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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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18 comments:

  1. Your pictures are not only excellent as usual, but also cast a fascinating light upon the way that the birds behave and interact. I would suggest writing a book about the birds of your bit of Florida, except that I guess your blog already fulfils that function. I wish I could find one that covers our birds here in Britain in a similar way to yours.

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  2. The Kestrel is a beautiful bird, and you have some wonderful captures. I like the Merlin fan tail shot!

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  3. I don't recall ever seeing a kestrel around here. The butterfly photo is beautiful!

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  4. fascinating, beautiful photos of the wild birds and the butterfly. Interesting your stories
    The moon picture in the lake are great !!!
    greetings Elke

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  5. Hello, awesome post on the Kestrel and I would love to see the Merlin. Your photos are beautiful, well done. Happy Anniversary of your engagement. Pretty sky and butterfly. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend. PS, thanks for the visit and comment on my post.

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  6. Beautiful!
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  7. I am always so anxious to see your posts! We see Kestrels often here but I'm not sure we've seen a Merlin. We have trouble with the Hawk IDs! lol How wonderful that you have had such a long happy marriage and still love to get out and do walks together. Makes me smile!!! Enjoy your weekend and this gorgeous weather!

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  8. What a great looking little bird - and rather more colourful than the Kestrels we have here.
    Hope all is well.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  9. My...it was like, there for a minute, like I stumbled into Wikipedia on the falcons' site! Extraordinary photos of them, terrific input of your knowledge also. (I like ANYTHING that eats snakes by the way)love the flashlight image of your "child bride"...and congratulations on 62 years of your proposal.

    Thanks for linking up this weekend.

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  10. Falcons are beautiful birds. I especially liked the picture with the fanned tail. - Margy

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  11. Beautiful photos of two handsome falcons! Have a wonderful week!

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  12. Kenneth you have obviously taken great time and trouble to work out and to then detail the daily habits of your kestrels. I called them "your kestrels" because I think they became quite accustomed to your presence and the click of your camera. Superb pictures, kestrels and Merlin.

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  13. Amazing photos of beautiful birds... and a butterfly, too. Thanks for posting them for all to enjoy.

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  14. The Kestrel is such a colorful and beautiful bird. So bird do have feelings!(the spread tail!) Love your almost romantic capture with the kestrel close to the red berries!
    Many thanks for posting this for All Seasons! The butterfly is beautiful too. If it were here, it would be hiding. because believe it or not it's snowing here right now. Thank you for the compliments toward hubby's carpenter skills, he has quite a history in that:) Have a lovely week!

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  15. Fabulous photos, I do love falcons. Diane

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  16. Marvelous bird photos and the skies are fantastic!

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  17. These are some great shots! I would have spent a lot of time taking lots and lots of photos, too! I love your captures.



    My Corner of the World

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