Growing Fast

I could never have believed that a Horsefly could reach such heights of popularity! The massacre of an innocent creature for yesterdays blip was worth it!
:) Before I write anything else, thank you all for the unexpected faves, stars and comments!

Back to today. The Kestrel chicks have grown and are flying but, for now, they leave the nest only for short flights, returning immediately. I decided to get them on camera this morning, before their absences get longer. The parents are luring them away and often wait with food in a nearby tree rather than give food on the nest. I sat in the field under their tree without any cover so my presence was very obvious. I'm sure the parents must know me from sight but I will still have caused some stress. They flew around, watching me closely, which the chicks took as the possible arrival of grub!

They're noisy little birds! Demanding food incessantly, they sound a bit like children having a temper tantrum. I hear their calls clearly from inside the house. No longer content to stay invisible and silent in their box, they bounce from branch to branch amongst the boughs, screeching whenever a parent is in sight.

This is the chicks reaction to a parent coming close by. If it carried food, I was there and the consignment failed. Instead, Mum and Dad, called the chicks to feed away from their tree. One parent took it's catch up onto the roof of a nearby building, the other into a nearby tree. I did get a shot of their flights but like this best. Both chicks were fed, but also warned of two legged foxes with cameras!

I left as soon as I saw they had had enough. There's a bus stop only yards away from the nest. The birds are used to seeing people but I'd ventured just that little bit too close for comfort. One of the parents sat on my neighbours roof, watching me until I walked though the door. Within minutes the chicks returned to their nest box.

Even after fledging the chicks will hang around. Last years chicks were being chased off late this spring, when they were still trying get back into the nest. These ones are becoming more wary now so I may not get as close for another shot this year but. hopefully there will be another brood to shoot in 2014

Happy weekend everybody!