READY NEEDS REDATE TAKEN 21/09/24 CROW AWAY.... A bird of prey and a crow battle in mid-air as witnessed from a hide overlooking a marsh with a telephoto lens. The kestrel and carrion crow were seen fighting in Pinkhill Nature Reserve in Farmoor, Oxfordshire. Scientist Jono McKendry, 41, from Drayton Oxfordshire said, "The female kestrel in the pictures is a regular morning visitor to this post and uses it as a resting place whilst hunting over the marsh land below. Whilst usually tolerant of most visitors to the marsh area including other birds of prey herons, egrets, and even other crows the kestrel took particular exception to the carrion crow and began calling." "When the carrion crow landed at the other end of the perch it kicked off. The kestrel delivered a few decisive blows and chased the crow away. I don't know why they were fighting, this is the first time I've seen a Kestrel attack a crow, it's often the other way around. It is usually conflicts over nesting sites, egg and chick predation however this is the wrong time of year, so maybe it was all about territory or they just had beef with each other." "This all happened in a split second and was over as quickly as it had begun. The kestrel came out on top, but what I enjoyed the most from the interaction was the intent and emotion of the birds showing the rawness of nature captured in a single frame." Please byline: Jono Mckendry/Solent News © Jono Mckendry/Solent News & Photo Agency UK +44 (0) 2380 458800 *** Local Caption *** 1. Pinkhill nature reserve, farmoor, oxfordshire 20th September (Saturday morning) 2. The female kestrel in the pictures is a regular morning visitor to the post shown in picture one and uses it as a resting place whilst hunting over the marsh land below. Whilst usually tolerant of most visitors to the marsh area including other birds of prey herons, egrets, and even other crows the Kestrel pictured took particular exception to the Carrion crow and began calling. When the carrion crow landed at the other end of the perch she was occupying, well... that's when it kicked off. The Kestrel delivered a few decisive blows and chased the kestrel away, only to return 5 minutes later sans crow. 3. The shots were captured using a sony a1 and 600mm lens from the hide overlooking the marsh. 4. I don't, this is the first time I've seen a Kestrel attack a crow, it's often the other way around. It is usually conflicts over nesting sites, egg/chick predation etc. But this is the wrong time of year, so maybe territory or they just have beef. 5. That the kestrel came out on top. But mainly for me it's the intent and emotion of the birds showing the rawness of nature captured in a single frame. 6. I've hopefully covered everything but happy to go into further details 7. Jono McKendry, age 41, Scientist, from Drayton Oxfordshire