Hawk (Kestral) killing rodent; Crows attack harass kestral

View of life of kestral.

I actually saw the kestral fly up with the prey, but didn't get my camera started in time. I went out to film the crows and thought they were haranguing a hawk, but I couldn't see the hawk. After the crows left, I turned off the camera. Then the kestral flew up to the power line wires. The crows were probably watching it, but it had been on the ground, where I couldn't see it.

It was very windy and cold that day, and quite amazing how the Kestral could hang on to the power line wires, hold its prey, and eat at the same time.

Its russet feathers show up well in the sunshine.

The Kestral is a falcon with a russet back and tail and double Black stripes on a white face. They have beautiful multicolored feathers and a "Killy, Killy, Killy call. They are graceful, swift fliers and are often found perched on telephone poles near farms. Also called a Sparrow Hawk, they are North America's smallest bird of prey.