Meet the Animals

Here at Pensthorpe we have a pair of kestrels currently incubating a full clutch of five eggs in a nest box. They are fast becoming infamous stars on the webcams!

Missed something? Keep up to date with the kestrel family here.

Species information

If you've ever seen a bird of prey hovering by the roadside verge waiting to drop down and grasp an unsuspecting vole or mouse in its talons, then chances are it will have been a kestrel. This mastery of hovering and hunting in stages has given rise to such local names as windhover, hoverhawk and windsucker. As well as being one of the UK's smallest raptors, its spotted plumage, long pointed wings and long tail are what to look for.

Kestrels have an extraordinary ability to find and catch food. They need to. They will eat between four and eight small mammals a day. A kestrel can spot and capture a beetle from 50m away.

This common and widespread falcon lives in both open countryside and in cities where it will nest in old buildings and high ledges. Pairs of kestrels have even been known to take up residence in nest boxes.

How to help

You can report a kestrel sighting with the Hawk and Owl Trust and help the BTO record bird distribution throughout the UK with BirdTrack. If you come across an injured kestrel then please contact Raptor Rescue.

As part of the Nest Box Challenge Week, the BTO has advice for those of you who have the space to put up a nest box for a kestrel.

Friday 12th June

The kestrels are excellent providers for the chicks and with all that food, these chicks are going to be okay.

Tuesday 9th June

Have a look at what's on the menu at the kestrel restaurant.

Monday 8th June

These five chicks are being very well fed by their parents. The menu features frogs and voles... Yum!

Tuesday 2nd June

Our kestrels are already causing drama and mayhem! Those five chicks have been fed one of the little lapwing chicks. Are the other three chicks safe, we wonder?