Kestrel

0:00:01 > 0:00:05On Deadly 60, I've had loads of incredible animal encounters.

0:00:05 > 0:00:08Here's just one of my many favourites.

0:00:08 > 0:00:11This is Deadly 60 Bites. Whoa!

0:00:16 > 0:00:20The UK is home to a superb array of birds of prey.

0:00:22 > 0:00:25But one of the most impressive is the master of hovering -

0:00:25 > 0:00:27the kestrel.

0:00:27 > 0:00:31So, Ashley here is a falconry bird and his owner, Lloyd,

0:00:31 > 0:00:35has taught him to hover in exactly the way that a wild bird would do.

0:00:35 > 0:00:38Let's see if we can get him to hover.

0:00:41 > 0:00:43Yes! Look at that!

0:00:43 > 0:00:48He's not even having to beat his wings, just turning into the wind

0:00:48 > 0:00:51and allowing the wind to come underneath the wings.

0:00:51 > 0:00:53Oh, wow! That was classic!

0:00:53 > 0:00:55And he's back up again!

0:00:57 > 0:01:03Kestrels love wind. By turning into it, air is constantly driven

0:01:03 > 0:01:04under its wings, creating lift,

0:01:04 > 0:01:08while its body remains stationary, hovering above the ground.

0:01:08 > 0:01:12This gives them the perfect vantage point

0:01:12 > 0:01:15to spot their favourite food - voles.

0:01:18 > 0:01:21Whoa! Ho, ho, ho!

0:01:21 > 0:01:23The speed as it comes through!

0:01:23 > 0:01:27That's when you can really see that this is a falcon.

0:01:27 > 0:01:30Keeping their heads still means our kestrel can pinpoint their target,

0:01:30 > 0:01:34in this case the lure, then plunge down to the grass.

0:01:34 > 0:01:37OK, now are we going to see...? Yes! Wow!

0:01:39 > 0:01:43Now that was a classic falcon strike. Thank you, Lloyd.

0:01:43 > 0:01:45I mean, he's just so beautiful.

0:01:45 > 0:01:49And gets a place on the Deadly 60.

0:01:49 > 0:01:53Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd