In fact it’s one of the largest voles I’ve seen (don’t worry, there’s nothing graphic here).
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I found this fierce little falcon one year ago yesterday at Farmington Bay. Here he had picked the vole up with his bill and at the time I assumed his intent was to fly off with it while carrying it that way. But a few seconds after this shot was taken he apparently changed his mind and tucked the vole back under his left foot. Then instead of beginning his meal as I expected him to he just gave me serious stink eye for a while and eventually flew off with it in his talons.
I quite like this photo for the good look at both falcon and prey, they’re both sharp, the light angle works, I think the bits of snow on top of the post add to the appeal of the image and the behavior is interesting and at least slightly unusual.
I don’t remember ever seeing a kestrel in flight with small mammal prey in its bill. Instead they always seem to carry them in their talons. So maybe he didn’t intend to fly off with it in his bill, but if not I have to wonder why he picked it up in the first place.
Sometimes I wish I could read their crafty (and often devious) little minds.
Ron
Rather than stink eye I see a worried look that says “hmm, I’ve got it now what do I do with it.”
Maybe you’re right, Lyle.
Superb photograph, Ron! Images of raptors with prey are some of my favorites. Likely because they’re not that common. (Okay, at least for me they’re not.)
Perhaps the Kestrel had the vole in his beak to ensure it was dead. Maybe there was some movement and the falcon chomped down on its neck for insurance before switching it to the carry position in his talons?
According to my bride, I am perfectly suited for deciphering the thoughts of birds as she frequently compares the size of my mighty brain with theirs. 🙂
Wally, I suppose your suggestion is a possibility but I don’t really think that’s why he picked it up. I’ve seen them provide the coup de grâce a fair number of times and that’s not what this looked like at all.
But considering your wife’s thoughts on your abilities to interpret bird behaviors I’ll definitely give it some more thought!
Eye bigger then the stomach? The Mole is almost as big as the bird lol. Lucky timing!
I’m pretty sure he’d have cached some of it for future use, Jean.
Mine, all mine. Back off.
And similar phrases…
That is one HUGE vole, and a mighty hunter.
You’re right on both counts, EC.
If looks could kill, you’d be a dead man. LOL. Happy New Year, Ron! Hoping you have another great year catching raptors in the act, and hoping they have a good year, too!
“If looks could kill, you’d be a dead man”
I had exactly that same thought, Chris. Thank you.
Maybe he was thinking of taking a few bites to make his load easier to carry. I don’t think they can fly well with big prey in their beak, the toes can lock to hold prey and it is probably more aerodynamic in a tail wind than head wind.
I wonder if he ate the whole thing or stashed part. I would be amazed if his crop could hold all that.
“I don’t think they can fly well with big prey in their beak”
I agree with that, April. Then there’s also the possibility that fur or body parts will blow up to obstruct their vision while they’re in flight.
Seems to me that he’d have cached at least part of this big boy.
I love watching them chase their prey. Never get enough pics of those beautiful male kestrels.
Me too and me either…
Golly! That vole’s almost as big as he is! Those wings must provide a helluvalotta lift.
They certainly can when it’s necessary, Marty.
That’s a huge vole! And you are definitely getting the stink eye. Lol
Yup. And yup.
I have never observed a kestrel caching and would loved to know more about that behavior. I have watched a redtail stoop a squirrel, carry it in its talons to a tree branch, pick it up with its beak, and then use the right foot to puncture and pull down on the belly fur, exposing the organs. Hawk then withdrew his beak, and with the squirrel firmly under the right foot used his beak to tear off and eat organ meat.
I’ve never seen them in the process of caching either, Martha. But I have seen them retrieve obviously cached voles – obvious partly because the were frozen solid.
It is amazing that they can catch/carry prey that’s darn near as large as they are and probably as heavy! WOW! Yes, we have voles that get that large, but most don’t…. Great capture! 🙂 Wind howling this morning – 🙁
Judy, like you I notice quite a difference in vole size. This was one of the larger ones I’ve se3en. Thanks and sorry about that damned wind!
Man, that Vole is big,! The Kestrel will have to tare into this vole a great deal before it can ingest his prey.
I agree this is a great image, but I have to admit I chuckled when I first looked at it. The prey item looked too big for him. There is a cartoon I once saw about a bird trying to eat something that was too big to swallow!
At any rate, nice capture.
Dick, as you know they don’t swallow prey like this whole. He would have torn it into bite-sized pieces. Thank you.
Another great shot here Ron. It is always a treat to see these guys and be close enough to get a good image. Not something I have had much successful with so yours are enviable. I did get lucky over the holidays while in S. Cal and visiting the Bolsa Chica Reserve. There was a Kestrel hovering quite a ways away and when he dove and came back up, his flight pattern was in my direction. The light angle was horrible, almost directly 90 degrees from my view angle, but he did fly in front of me and I got off a few exposures before I was shooting into the light. WaLa, mouse in talons, eyes open and a hint of highlight. The little bugger was still alive. I panned with the bird and the last exposure I shot showed the Kestrel lifting the mouse (in flight) and and applying the fatal crushing bite to the mouses neck. I was needless to say pleasantly surprised when I looked at the imagse. Best Kestrel experience I have had and looking for more when we get back up to Montana this coming summer. As always, thanks for the post Ron.
Sounds like a fun experience for you, Frank. Yes, their tomial tooth is very effective at killing prey.
That is one strong Kestrel. Can’t believe the size of that vole. Compares to the photos of ospreys and eagles carrying off those huge fish. Just looking at this you would not think that little kestrel could carry that thing anywhere. Nature is truly remarkable. Great photo.
Everett Sanborn
Prescott AZ
He didn’t seem to have any trouble flying with it, Everett. Thanks.
Voles remind me of hockey pucks…lol.
Great catch for that there Kestrel! I’m sure his look may have had a lil hint of “I do this all the time” 🙂
Tim
Your hockey puck analogy is a good one, Tim. I think I’d rather eat the puck…
‘A serious stink eye’! Wow! There is a touch of a snear at the corner of the mouth also…if looks could kill. Beautiful colors here; everything works so well including the background. ❤️ That does seem like a larger than usual vole. After our five inches of snow the other day we are set for a warm up to 40º for the next few. My hunch on the Shorties panned out…they ventured away from the deeper snow to hunt and were closer to the road in the marsh…four of them were out the other p.m. But alas with the dark grey skies, lack of sun, things were too dark for photos; they venture out so late. A very early morning trip is in store…perhaps they will stay for a few rays of morning sun…🤞
Thank you, Kathy.
Shorties around here often hunt until mid-morning but most of ours are only here during the nesting season so I have very little experience with them in winter.
That ought to fill him up…I didn’t know voles got that big…always thought they were tiny little creatures….very nice shot Ron. I like the snow on the post also…got some snow here in central AZ. this week, quite unusual for my town..but fun..
Steve, The vole was large enough that I suspect the kestrel eventually cached at least part of it for future use. It was definitely cold enough that it would “keep”. Yeah, I’ve been seeing reports of your snow down there.