The Obs quarry birds

08 Thursday Oct 2026

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birding, birding on the Isle of Portland, birdwatching, British birds, Kestrel, Little owl, Little owl preening, Obs quarry Little owl

I can never visit Portland Bill without checking the old quarry in the field adjacent to the bird observatory to see if the resident Little owl is at home. When I stopped off during a circuit of the east cliffs, the Bill, and the fields up the hill from the Obs on Thursday 24 September, the owl was nowhere to be seen but, as I stood searching with my binoculars every nook and cranny between the large blocks of stone, a Kestrel flew in. It perched on a rock at the top of the quarry, started calling and peering down at the rocks, as if it too was looking for the Little owl. In my imagination it was calling ‘Hey, little mate. Are you here? Come out and play!’ There was no response and the Kestrel flew off.

The next day, the 25th, I was back on Portland, walking a different route, but I detoured once again past the Obs quarry. And this time the Little owl was at home, sitting in its usual spot, preening. You can’t get very close to the bird – and I certainly wouldn’t want to disturb it – so my photos of it aren’t great.

However, during this visit I also took a very short video clip of it preening, which I thought you might enjoy.

A Portland Bill Kestrel

02 Thursday Apr 2026

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birding, birding on the Isle of Portland, birdwatching, British birds, Kestrel, Kestrel at Portland Bill, Portland birding

When I saw this Kestrel sitting on a pole near the Bill on the Isle of Portland last week, I couldn’t help but wonder how long they live. Why? If you look at my Birding at Portland blog from October 2017, about a trip to Portland with my local bird club, you’ll see there’s a very similar photo of a Kestrel sitting on the exact same pole. A quick google tells me the average lifespan for a wild Kestrel is four to five years so I’m guessing the bird I saw last week is a descendant of the 2017 Kestrel and the pole is simply the perfect place for a Kestrel to perch while surveying for prey.

Kestrel 2026 : 86

31 Saturday Jan 2026

Posted by sconzani in birds, winter

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birding, birds of prey, birdwatching, British birds, Kestrel

Probably due to the almost constant wet weather, I’ve not seen as many new bird species this January as I did in the previous two years. I imagine the storms also have something to do with this; though three named storms have hit the UK already this year, and caused enormous damage in the locations they’ve hit hardest, those storms have mostly passed us by here in south-east Wales. And though I’m not complaining about that, it is often stormy weather that brings the more unusual birds during the winter months.

This beautiful Kestrel was my most recent find. It was a complete surprise too, which is always a bonus. I’d been for a wander around the less muddy parts of Cosmeston Lakes Country Park and was walking through the area where there’s a dipping pond when I noticed the Kestrel sitting on top of a spindly tree. As you can see, it didn’t stay long but it was a joy to see.

Ever watchful

02 Tuesday Dec 2025

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bird of prey, birding, birdwatching, British birds, Kestrel

Despite my being partially concealed by low trees and tall shrubs, moving as quietly as possible over the uneven ground, and pretending not to have noticed this stunning Kestrel (I always think it’s better not to meet their eyes when trying to be stealthy), I still didn’t manage to get close enough for a very good photograph. It was almost as if the bird was teasing me, leading me to think I could get closer, before it flew up and away to hover several times over the neighbouring field while searching for unfortunate small mammals.

K is for Kestrel

16 Thursday Dec 2021

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, Kestrel

Though I’m lucky enough to see Kestrels quite frequently when I walk the footpaths along the coast and through local farmland, I don’t often manage to photograph them, and the Kestrel has only starred once in this year’s blogs, quite recently with a co-starring Buzzard in BoPs. A few days after that post however, I spotted this bird during a walk around Cardiff Bay and was pleased to get this image of a decidedly urban Kestrel.

211216 kestrel

BoPs

25 Thursday Nov 2021

Posted by sconzani in birds

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birding, birds of prey, birdwatching, British birds, Buzzard, Kestrel

Tuesday’s walk brought two encounters with birds of prey. First a Buzzard drifted overhead and, not long afterwards, I clocked a Kestrel hovering close by. It always amazes me that these birds have such incredible eyesight that they can spot lunch on the ground from high in the sky.

211125 buzzard 211125 kestrel

283/366 Kestrel

09 Friday Oct 2020

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birding, birds of prey, birdwatching, British birds, Falco tinnunculus, Kestrel

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.

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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.

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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.

201009 kestrel (1)

235/365 Phenomenal flying

23 Friday Aug 2019

Posted by sconzani in 365DaysWildin2019, birds, nature

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birding, birds, birdwatching, British birds, Kestrel, Kestrel hovering

When my friend Jill and I returned to her car after our walk to Rottingdean Windmill last week, we were treated to the sight of a Kestrel hunting for food in the meadow immediately in front of the carpark. After one unsuccessful plunge down into the grass, it retreated to a fencepost.

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But, within minutes, it was airborne once again, and even closer to us this time. What always amazes me with Kestrels is how, even in very strong and gusty winds, they manage to keep their heads perfectly still so as to focus on their potential prey. Their flying skills are phenomenal.

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The windhover

10 Saturday Nov 2018

Posted by sconzani in birds, nature

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birding, birdwatching, British birds, hoverhawk, hovering Kestrel, Kestrel, stand hawk, wind bivver, wind fanner, windfucker, windhover

Most of my sightings of Kestrels have been of birds rapidly beating their wings to maintain their incredibly static position in the air as they watch intently for the small mammals they prey on, and this ability to remain almost stationary is the reason for some of their many vernacular names: windhover and windfucker, hoverhawk, wind bivver, wind fanner and stand hawk. (This series of stills was taken recently of a Kestrel doing just that at Lavernock Nature Reserve.)

I was particularly delighted, then, during our recent birding trip to Portland, to do a little hovering of my own – albeit at ground level – as I edged ever closer to a Kestrel that was taking a short break from its almost constant hunting and sheltering from the gusting northerlies on a nearby roof top. What a stunning bird it is!

181110 kestrel (5)

Birding on Portland

01 Thursday Nov 2018

Posted by sconzani in autumn, birds, nature

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birding, birding on Portland, birdwatching, British birds, Chesil Beach, Fieldfare, Kestrel, Portland Bill, Portland Bird Observatory, Rock pipit, Stonechat

From Lodmoor we continued on towards Portland, stopping for a scan through the few birds on the water and shore at Ferry Bridge (but there wasn’t a lot of be seen) and for a wander through the quarries looking for the reported Ring ouzels at The Verne (turns out we were in the wrong place but the Stonechats were nice to see). Friday ended with us all settled in our rooms at the Obs (Portland Bird Observatory) and off for a meal at The Pulpit Inn.

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Saturday was our day for birding around Portland but the weather really was against us on this year’s trip. The strong freezing northerlies and clear skies meant most migrating birds were being driven on above our heads, rather than being caught in the nets at the Obs or stopping over somewhere on the island to refuel.

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With nothing much happening on the sea or in the Obs garden, we had a wander down to the Bill and along the shore. Rock pipits, pied wagtails and a confiding Kestrel were about all we found there – no Purple sandpipers to be seen.

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From the Obs, we drove to Pennsylvannia and walked down the track to Church Ope Cove, checking all the while for the Yellow-browed warblers that had been seen there – no luck, unfortunately, but it was a lovely walk, with stunning views, and we did see some Stonechats.

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Another walk took us between the various quarries and past the remains of windmills to The Hump, where Yellow-browed warblers had also been reported. Once again we lucked out … but saw more Stonechats!

181101 birding Portland (8)

Having walked back to the cars, we drove on to The Verne, to look once again (in the right place this time) for the Ring ouzels, but they remained elusive. It was another good walk though, with more cracking views, out over the sea and along the coast over Chesil Beach.

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After a second look at Ferry Bridge (our first Knot of the trip spotted through the ’scopes), it was back to the Obs for the night and another meal, amidst much banter and laughter, at The Pulpit, though not before we indulged in a spot of Short-eared owl watching in the fields across the road from the Obs itself. Three birds seen flying – superb!