Common Kestrels in the Pratone
There’s a stretch of the abandoned land which serves as the natural world here in Rome which I love. I’ve returned here again and again to commune with nature while the Puffin Whisperer is out at work. It’s called the Pratone, which means meadow in English. It’s earmarked for development and will be erased by concrete unless a small group of volunteers manage to influence enough politicians to save it.
There are Monk Parakeets chattering noisily in the trees:
In summer there are Great Green Bush Crickets on a Long-Lipped Tongue Orchids:
It’s a place I go to see the Black Redstarts flitting amongst the stones and dry vegetation and practise my in-flight shots:
Perhaps the most iconic resident of this stretch of green, though, a green oasis in a desert of concrete, is the Kestrel:
And that’s who I’m here to see today.
There’s no cover and nowhere to hide, so getting close to the Kestrels is an issue. Being slow and deliberate in my movements, I can inch closer and then wait. The Kestrels here rarely hover, because they have tall perches to choose from. They stare intently at the ground, with necks bouncing to keep their heads still and eyes fixed on a spot on the ground, despite the branches moving in the light breeze.
When they fly past it’s a joy.
And when they fly towards me it’s even better.
I look forward to bringing you more adventures from the Pratone.
More from the Pratone
Starling in the Meadow As I arrive in Broken Tower Meadow in Rome a group of Starlings scatter from their fossicking in the meadow.… read more
A hunting Hobby I can see a bird of prey high in the sky. I don't recognise it, so I train my lens… read more
Eastern Dappled White Butterfly There are butterflies galore in Broken Tower Meadow, il Pratone di Torre Spaccata. Here's one. I think it's the Eastern… read more
Transparent Burnet Moth There's what looks like a Transparent Burnet moth, Zygaena purpuralis in the park. The larvae feed on wild thyme, which… read more
There’s a beetle-shaped hole in our lives In the UK the species Trichodes alvearius and another, the Bee-Eating Beetle, Trichodes apiarius, “Have not been seen since the 19th century and are… read more
“Gruccione!” We're walking in Broken Tower Meadow, il Pratone di Torre Spaccata when the Puffin Whisperer says "Gruccione". I recognise the… read more
I’m a big fan of garden pests Whenever I search the Internet for an invertebrate, unless it's rare, there's always a result which is "How do I… read more
Thousands of orchids as far as the eye can see Walking around il Pratone di Torre Spaccata in Rome we spot a Long-Lipped Tongue Orchid, Serapias vomeracea. Then we spot… read more
‘Shrike’ she shrieks! We're walking in il Pratone di Torre Spaccata (Broken Tower Meadow) in Rome when I hear the Puffin Whisperer shout… read more