チョウゲンボウとホシムクドリ / Common Kestrel and Common Starling

It was raining this morning, but it stopped in the afternoon, so I went out to try again to find Eurasian Bittern. The wind was strong, perhaps bordering on cold air.

On the way, I spotted a Common Kestrel, which was hovering almost without flapping its wings in the strong wind. The thick vertical pattern on its breast suggested that it was a juvenile.

A Common Kestrel hovering
チョウゲンボウ / Common Kestrel | Nikon D500 + AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR
A Common Kestrel standing on the ground with its wings spread
It landed on the ground several times, but seemed to catch nothing.
A Common Kestrel swoops down.
A Common Kestrel swoops down.
In a dive.

There were Common Starlings in the pasture grass. I don’t like electric wire shots, but this close might not be so bad.

Three Common Starlings perched on an electric wire against a blue sky
ホシムクドリ / Common Starling
Closeup of a Common Starling perching on an electric wire
Beautiful star pattern as the Japanese name suggests and feathers shining in an austere structural color. I like it better than White-cheeked Starlings.
Two Common Starlings walking in the grass
I could have taken some on the ground, but they didn’t get very close.

And it was raining at Kirara-hama when I arrived there, taking a detour. And again I could not find Eurasian Bittern!

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