Kes

A Eurasian Kestrel seeks a suitable spot to hover. © Jeff Clarke

Since I was a tiny child I've been utterly entranced by this delightful falcon. The poet Gerard Manley Hopkins was equally captivated and described the Kestrel's sublime hovering skills, to perfection, in his celebrated poem 'The Windhover', written on 30 May 1877. If you are not familiar with this poem it's time to put that glaring omission to bed. It's not just one of the greatest nature poems, it's one of the best poems ever written.

A Eurasian Kestrel beats into the wind, erecting its alula feathers to prevent stalling © Jeff Clarke

The Windhover

I caught this morning morning’s minion, kingdom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding

Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding

High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing

In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,

As a skate’s heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding

Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding

Stirred for a bird, — the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!

Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here

Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion

Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!

No wonder of it: shéer plód makes plough down sillion

Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,

Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermilion.

My words cannot compare, but my sheer joy and delight when watching this bird hook its bill to a fixed point in the air, eyes keenly focused below, every part of the birds body in fluid motion yet its head remains motionless, is a true wonder. I never tire of it.

As it plunges head-long to the ground, it swings foward its strengthened legs and strikes!

A Eurasion Kestrel prepares to strike! © Jeff Clarke