I’ve been down to the church tower a few times over the last week, but didn’t get a glimpse of the kestrels nesting there until Friday when I was without binoculars and camera. I thought I could just make out an adult and two young ones.

This morning I set off down Cox’s Walk to see if the fledglings are still around. Kestrels feed their young for up to a month after fledging so I’m hopeful.

The crows were making lots of noise as I approach which is promising. And yes, there they are, the two gawky teenagers loitering on the church’s peaked roof.  They take off and re-land on a chimney stack and a cross and there’s lots of wing flapping and squeaking.

The crows aren’t happy. They repeatedly swoop in.  “Clear off, we don’t want you trouble-makers hanging around in our patch.”

Through my long lens, it feels like one of the young birds is looking directly at me. I wonder what life he or she has ahead of them.  As kestrels defend only a small territory it’s possible that these juveniles may not go too far and end up sharing feeding grounds with their parents. Or perhaps they’ll spread their wings.

Oh, the places you’ll go!

[Kestrel facts from the RSPB website]