Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: steve rossi on December 29, 2009, 10:31:50 AM

Title: kestrel eating mouse
Post by: steve rossi on December 29, 2009, 10:31:50 AM

we observed this kestrel fly to a nest , perhaps a robins nest and begin eating a mouse he had stored there earlier upon closer observation of the pictures I realized there were at least two mice stored in the nest, you can see the tail on the mouse he has in his mouth and another tail hanging over the edge. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2768/422 ... e40d_b.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2768/4223567359_b28676e40d_b.jpg)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/422 ... d306_b.jpg (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4223520939_02f210d306_b.jpg)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2545/422 ... a220_b.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2545/4220593467_027192a220_b.jpg)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/422 ... 5c84_b.jpg (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/4224994325_9541da5c84_b.jpg)

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Post by: denis on December 29, 2009, 11:00:53 AM

great capture there,steve.right spot,at the right time.
denis

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Post by: steve rossi on December 29, 2009, 11:32:34 AM

Thanks Denis,  I know sometimes when you`re out there you just luck out and come across a find like this.
I see you have made some great finds yourself, your amherst trip looks like it was a real success,
the boreal and long eared owl, fantastic.

Steve

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Post by: Moira on December 29, 2009, 03:42:27 PM

Very clear, crisp images with fantastic colour.

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Post by: steve rossi on December 29, 2009, 04:44:31 PM

Thanks Moira, the male kestrel is a very colourful bird.

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Post by: Anonymous on December 29, 2009, 04:44:38 PM

Nice photos.

On a side note, and nothing to do with the photographer, but I really do wonder where the white mice appeared from...

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Post by: steve rossi on December 29, 2009, 05:03:25 PM

Attila, he had these mice stored in the nest, we first spotted him in another tree then he flew to the tree with the nest, we could see his head movements to that of tearing at something, when we moved a little closer looking through the lense we could see he a mouse, it wasn`t untill I looked at the pics on the computer that I realized there were two mice, who knows maybe more. The mouse in his mouth is light coloured and I think light grey on top, so I would say are wild mice and the kestrel was storing up his bounty. I thought this to be interesting behaviour, nature at it`s best.

Steve

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Post by: Misty01 on December 29, 2009, 05:35:56 PM

I agree Steve; def. nature at it's best!!

Great photo's  :D

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Post by: steve rossi on December 29, 2009, 05:39:49 PM

Thanks Misty

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Post by: Photoman on December 29, 2009, 09:05:46 PM

Outstanding shots Steve, right place at the right time. Great sharpness and detail, thanks for sharing.

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Post by: ravynne40 on December 30, 2009, 09:06:54 AM

Wow Steve! these are awesome shots!

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Post by: Anonymous on December 30, 2009, 09:52:03 AM

Steve,

I concur with everyones sentiment that the pictures are definitely cool and nature at its best!  Storing up bounty is an interesting trait amongst birds, and is very interesting to capture on camera.  

I just don't know if I agree that they're the wild mice that you think they are, that's all.

Cheers, and great captures!

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Post by: steve rossi on December 30, 2009, 01:12:20 PM

Thanks for the comments everyone.

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Post by: mr.sharp-photo on December 30, 2009, 03:02:09 PM

Quote from: "steve rossi"

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Attila, the bird flew to the nest that already had the mice stored in it, what type of mice they are is anybody`s guess, I would just have to assume they are wild, what else could they be!!

think its being implied that some dumbdumb (not you) let pet-store feeder (white) mice loose in order to lure raptors down for viewing/photography opportunities.

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Post by: What was that? on December 30, 2009, 03:13:41 PM

For some reason I think differently to others.
Think man eating tiger (tiger does the eating).
Now think kestel eating mouse.
That's really turning the tables.
:)

Graham

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Post by: Halton Hills on December 31, 2009, 07:56:13 AM

Quote from: "yogistewart"

Quote from: "steve rossi"

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Attila, the bird flew to the nest that already had the mice stored in it, what type of mice they are is anybody`s guess, I would just have to assume they are wild, what else could they be!!

think its being implied that some dumbdumb (not you) let pet-store feeder (white) mice loose in order to lure raptors down for viewing/photography opportunities.

.

Agreed.....they do not appear to be wild mice.

.

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Post by: rc2009 on December 31, 2009, 09:16:32 AM

Great shots Steve.

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Post by: steve rossi on December 31, 2009, 04:13:04 PM

Thanks Rui, these are the pic`s  I was taking when you bumped into Neil and I down there.
We are planning to head there this weekend, maybe we will see you down there.