Draycott Sleights are part of a nature reserve complex on the Mendip escarpment overlooking the Somerset Levels. It is a well known spot for chalkhill blue, wall, and grayling butterflies and this is what a friend and I went looking for yesterday. But it was soon apparent that the butterflies were going to take a back seat in the proceedings as up to three kestrels took advantage of the stiff breeze coming up from the levels to hunt along the slopes. Positioned about halfway up we were able to watch them hovering and swooping above, parallel to, and sometimes below us.
Aerial dogfight. I don't know what this dispute between the two birds was about.
... and this is the classic hovering position that we so often see from the car, only to see them disappear as we get out to snap them. The Sleights are great in this respect as you can settle in a likely spot with the camera and wait for them to come to you.
Wonderful action shots. You've got them picture-perfect. What a glorious sight, even from a distance shared.
Absolutely staggered by those, Eccles, particularly the first one. I felt I was staring right into his fierce, wild, hawk-like little face - and I shivered
Wonderful shots! I love the dog fight, but I'd have to say that the first one is my favorite. 
Thanks all, glad you like them. I went back there on 2nd August but the wind had died and the aerial lift that enabled the kestrels to spend so little energy searching for prey had gone, and so unfortunately had the kestrels.
I did see this rather nice female wheatear though. 
Isn't she a lovely thing? So serene. Another perfect portrait from you.
A perfect portrait is right. Lovely. I've never felt so close to nature and its marvels since I met Eccles and his wonderful photography 
I only ever see Magpies and Pidgeons these days I don't know what has happened to all the birds.
So Thank You eccles for showing us your pictures of birds.
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