I don’t know if this Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is an inexperienced youngster or simply confident in its ability to escape my attentions, but it is certainly one of the most confiding birds of prey I’ve encountered.

While it was taking a break from hunting over the local farm fields, I managed to get very close to its perch and, even when circling the fields, it flew quite near to me, resulting in probably my best flight photos to date.

There are two resident Kestrels in these coastal fields but this one can immediately be identified by its wonky wing feather, which, fortunately, doesn’t seem to make the slightest difference to its aerial agility.