Lake District

It is wet here in the Lake District. The becks and ghylls are flowing strongly with torrents forming small waterfalls. The birds are largely in hiding though I have seen several buzzards and ravens and a startled whinchat which I would have expected to have departed by now for warmer climes.
The vegetation its still suggestive of summer though the flowering rhododendrons I have witnessed are more reminiscent of spring.

Kestrel Hunting Tactic

The heatwave has passed and we have been thrown into a period of cool wet weather. The swallows are massing (approximately one hundred over the Downs this morning). Warblers are passing through the garden on migration.
Yesterday I saw a bird of prey sweeping across the stubble field. It was flying low and fast and I was intrigued as to its identity. What happened next was that it abruptly halted its flight, rose in the air about two meters and hovered. Before it could drop onto its prey, it was easily possible to identify it as a kestrel. I have never previously observed a kestrel employing a tactic, which, if over a hedgerow, would be more akin to the hunting behaviour of a sparrow hawk.

Robin Relief

The ever reliable robin is the only bird to be heard singing at the moment. Many birds have been moulting and this has led to their silence. Many birds, such as the neighbourhood skylarks have moved away completely, whilst the warblers can only be seen skulking deep in the undergrowth. But, the robin has begun singing again. These are of course, very territorial birds, but why should they be particularly concerned with territory at this time of year? There is also evidence that many robins migrate to our warmer climes in the winter so are these new arrivals?
Lots of questions, but not so  many answers I am afraid.