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:
It’s a male Lesser Kestrel in its nest:
Thousands of them nest communally here in Matera:
I think this one may be nervous of our presence, even though there’s constant traffic past us:
We’ve seen them here before:
It flies overhead between the buildings:
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:
This pair are mating on the rooftops even though he hasn’t finished his meal yet:
Then it’s time to go catch another cricket:
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