It looks like Jenny the kestrel has a new partner - and they're already house hunting!
Jenny the kestrel
Two years ago poor Jenny was left to raise her chicks alone after her partner Jeff suddenly disappeared. She was spotted in my garden last year, but I suspect she bred off camera. Now she's back and appears to have attracted a new mate. But with birds of prey, courtship is a game of chase and the male kestrel must persuade the female that he can provide - including finding a suitable nest site.
Male kestrel
Judging by the fact that his head feathers have yet to turn fully grey and his tail feathers have undergone a full mount, this male kestrel is about a year younger than three year old Jenny. To win Jenny, the young male shows her my Beech Stump nest box, sitting in the entrance and bowing to encourage her to take a look inside. But Jenny plays hard to get and, despite momentarily joining him at the entrance, pushes him out and then chases him off.
