The Lesser Kestrels of Matera #7
We’re having close encounters of the wildlife kind:
There are Lesser Kestrels all over Matera. I’m sure the locals must become immune to their charms, but I just can’t imagine that happening to me. Who could resist looking skywards and seeing an elegant flypast?
They are now settling into pairs after their journey from Africa and are calling to each other. Males seem to hold onto their prey for long periods, perhaps hoping to offer it as a gift to a female. Others are mating on the rooftops.
They fill the old city with calls and acrobatics.
Across the city we can see a window box balcony flypast:
Most of the cranes for the rebuilding of the old city have gone now but one huge red one remains. This Lesser Kestrel landed on a crane arm which then started swinging into position. It left its perch with an air of puzzlement.
They flutter and swoop despite the human presence:
I love their muted colours against the warm tones of the rock city:
What a spectacular location:
Occasionally they perform startlingly fast about-turns in the sky and I almost think that they are enjoying this experience as much as we are:
Which is a great deal.
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