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The Lesser Kestrels of Alcala de los Gazules

I had heard about a large colony of Lesser Kestrels in Alcala de los Gazules, a small town in Los Arconocales National Park, so I went to have a look myself. I saw a few of them flying over the town as I arrived.




Female Lesser Kestrel flying through the air
Female Lesser Kestrel overflying the town

I was lucky to find a place to park in the centre of the town and continued on foot to the church, which was only a couple of minutes away. There I saw many breeding House Martins. They have their nests under the roofs of the houses.



House Martins building nests against a wall
Some amazing building skills

Some House Sparrows and Spotless Starlings guided me to the church, the highest point, where I found the largest group of Lesser Kestrels. I saw tens of them, males and females, some approaching their nest they had built in the church tower. Here I could easily take some decent shots of these wonderful birds.




Lesser Kestrel entering a hole in a wall
A male in a crevice high up the church tower


Male Lesser Kestrel in flight
Male Lesser Kestrel


Female Lesser Kestrel in flight
Female Lesser Kestrel

A bit further down the street I enjoyed a beautiful view over the valley.



Wide valley with some mountains in the distance


On my way back I saw some nesting boxes, hung up on a building wall, and Kestrels bringing food back home, but couldn't figure out if there was anything inside them.




A male Lesser Kestrel with a bug at the entrance of a nestbox
A male Lesser Kestrel with a bug at the entrance of a nestbox

This was by far the largest colony of Kestrels I have ever seen.

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