Hello Again and Kestrel 2020

[antoeknee]

Been a while since I've been on here. After my trip to Iceland last June we spent the following months caring for my mum who had terminal bladder cancer. Her last few weeks were spent in a hospice which provided a level of care we couldn't have provided. I'll be forever grateful to the staff for making the last few weeks of her life so comfortable and the compassion shown to our family.

My mums passing really hit me hard and I found little enthusiasm for photography. However, yesterday I was passing the site of the kestrel nest and saw 2 birds close by. This got me interested again and I charged up the batteries (mine and the cameras) and took a stroll round this afternoon. Quite overcast and at first there was no birds to be seen. Waited a while and was rewarded with the following:

Female
Kestrel 2020-4 by tblake2007, on Flickr

Male
Kestrel 2020-3 by tblake2007, on Flickr

Then mating took place
Kestrel 2020-7 by tblake2007, on Flickr

So its looking hopeful for 2020.

Plan to be posting more as the season progresses and my interest in photography returns.

[Trev B]

Great set Ant and welcome back. So sorry to hear about your mum, my own mum died twelve years ago today, 13 weeks off her 100th.

[antoeknee]

Thanks Trev , my mum was just 2 weeks sort of her 93rd birthday. Its amazing what this generation went through and what might be considered a less than ideal diet that so may of them live to quite old age.

[tesarver]

Very nice set Ant. Thanks for the update

Tom

[tigerburnie]

Great set of images, lets hope the photography helps with the healing

[@imagesBV]

It’s good to know you’ve found interest again, looking forward to seeing more of your work on here again

[John Liddle]

Thank you for posting and sharing. My thoughts are with you and yours.

[colin C]

My condolences, never easy losing someone, especially a parent that has been with you for all of your life.

But you have come back with a bang and some superb images.

[antoeknee]

Thanks all for comments.

Bit miffed at the moment had a trip to Orkney arranged for mid May. Had stops at Bempton, Farne, Kelpies, Falkirk Wheel on way up and then way back down a couple of day stop so we could get out to Staffa.

The current situation has meant most of the stops have already been cancelled.

[leeperry]

Great set of images
Sorry to hear about your loss.

[Daisy M]

Glad you have come through your hard time & wish you all the best for the future. So glad we will have the continued quality shots of the life of the Kestrels.

[Bill53]

Great set Ant, sorry for your loss.

Bill.

[Brian Sugden]

An excellent set of images. Looking forward to seeing more.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

[antoeknee]

Thanks for kind thoughts. Kestrels are being a bit elusive at the moment, not unusual before egg laying starts. So assuming were not all confined to our houses I'll keep visiting and posting their progress.