I found the Kestrel's nest almost exactly where I thought it would be. It's in an old crow's nest in a tall, slender tree near the top lake car park. I climbed higher up the steep hill until I reached a point where I could see inside the nest. It contains a single chick which is quite large but downy, with a few wing feathers showing through. I watched the mother hovering near the nest but didn't see her visit.

I collected pellets from below the nest tree and found them to contain beatle wing cases, fur and the jaw and limb bones of small mammals, one of which must have been a rat judging from the size of the teeth. I also found part of the wing of a small bird which I couldn't identify and pieces of broken Kestrel eggshell.

Other birds seen included my first Redstart.

Redstart

(And my first attempt at painting since leaving school - it shows!)

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