Lesser Kestrels on the rooftops

We’re on a residential street in the middle of a city. In a wall there’s a hole in the stonework and we can see a curious eye looking at us:

Lesser Kestrel - Matera - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

It’s a male Lesser Kestrel in its nest:

Lesser Kestrel - Matera - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Thousands of them nest communally here in Matera:

Lesser Kestrel - Matera - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I think this one may be nervous of our presence, even though there’s constant traffic past us:

Lesser Kestrel - Matera - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

We’ve seen them here before:

It flies overhead between the buildings:

Lesser Kestrel - Matera - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Further down into the ancient city we can see another male perched on a weather vane. This one has caught a grasshopper or cricket and has brought it back to its nest:

On top of the cockerel is one of its favourite places to perch:

They are very successful hunters:

Lesser Kestrel - Matera - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

This pair are mating on the rooftops even though he hasn’t finished his meal yet:

Lesser Kestrel - Matera - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Then it’s time to go catch another cricket:

Lesser Kestrel - Matera - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

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