Dog Fight between Red Kite and Kestrel

Very distant so not decent photos, but I found the behaviour so astounding I thought I would share.

Now a Kestrel maxes out at 300g and a Red Kite at 1.3 Kg, so I find this very odd.
I would assume they are going for different prey items, possibly the Kite was to near the Kestrel's nest and thus got mobbed. The Kite was quite high when this started.

Any one else seen this sort of thing and might know the background please post in.

With the Kestrel coming in on an attack run the Kite goes talons up...

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Great job capturing the action Lester. I would say it's all about protecting a nest, but that's just my guess.

Glad you shared Lester, very cool action. I have to agree that whether Dad or Mum, even a much larger bird gets too close to a nest when the little ones are there, all fear is gone. Grand job indeed!

Very cool sequence there! Great capture.

Great sequence Lester. I have seen the same here with a Kestrel and Red-tailed Hawk. It is a mobbing behavior in my book. I have also seen swooping mob behavior from a Kestrel against a Red-tailed that was perched.

It seems to a generalized thing. I have seen a RTH mob a Golden Eagle, too.

Nice action shots Lester. I have seen a Kestrel chasing away a Red Tail and they can be quite persistent. I'm thinking the Kestrel had a nest nearby but can't confirm.

SJC from VT wrote in post #16922639
Great job capturing the action Lester. I would say it's all about protecting a nest, but that's just my guess.

Oldjackssparrows wrote in post #16922699
Glad you shared Lester, very cool action. I have to agree that whether Dad or Mum, even a much larger bird gets too close to a nest when the little ones are there, all fear is gone. Grand job indeed!

PixelPusher wrote in post #16922963
Very cool sequence there! Great capture.

2n10 wrote in post #16922973
Great sequence Lester. I have seen the same here with a Kestrel and Red-tailed Hawk. It is a mobbing behavior in my book. I have also seen swooping mob behavior from a Kestrel against a Red-tailed that was perched.

It seems to a generalized thing. I have seen a RTH mob a Golden Eagle, too.

Grizz wrote in post #16923029
Nice action shots Lester. I have seen a Kestrel chasing away a Red Tail and they can be quite persistent. I'm thinking the Kestrel had a nest nearby but can't confirm.

Thanks for looking and commenting all.

That would have been cool to watch! Not easy to photograph, either.

Interesting story and nice set of captures to support it Lester.
I too would have loved to watch the dogfight, but little doubt in my mind that the Kestrel could fly circles around the Kite. Had to have been territorial, but thanks to you I felt like I was there too. Well done!

Really nice action sequence here Lester, maybe the kestrel have nest nearby. Just a few days ago I saw an anna's hummingbird here chasing a pigeon, I think the anna's have a nest nearby too that's why she is so feisty in defending the area.

heyBJK wrote in post #16934436
That would have been cool to watch! Not easy to photograph, either.

CamFan01 wrote in post #16935488
Interesting story and nice set of captures to support it Lester.
I too would have loved to watch the dogfight, but little doubt in my mind that the Kestrel could fly circles around the Kite. Had to have been territorial, but thanks to you I felt like I was there too. Well done!

jodelak wrote in post #16945722
Really nice action sequence here Lester, maybe the kestrel have nest nearby. Just a few days ago I saw an anna's hummingbird here chasing a pigeon, I think the anna's have a nest nearby too that's why she is so feisty in defending the area.

Thanks all, I am so glad you enjoyed these shots.

Yes little doubt the Kestrel was in control, the Kite looked quite beleaguered.