Surprise visitor to the patio

We are blessed with many varieties of birds at Bracken House, but today, we saw a rare event when a kestrel landed right in front of the kitchen patio doors. After spending a few minutes perched behind the gazebo, the bird swooped down to land literally a couple of feet from the house.

Kestrel #5 (Photo credit: Alan Rowley Photos)

We often see kestrels hovering above the land, but this was the first time I have seen one  this close in many years. Fortunately, my camera was handy and I was able to take a few shots of the bird before it flew into the bushes beside the house.

This wasn’t the last we saw of the kestrel as he returned later in the day to sit under the hedge, with the chickens pecking the ground next to him.

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