FROM A DISTANCE the lone bird hovering over the moor looked like it had been pinned to the sky. Rapidly beating its wings as if trying to break free, it remained fastened just above the horizon. Then it dropped slightly, stalled and turned, catching the light headwind and sweeping in an arc before rising to a new position, tail spread and eyes locked on the ground below. Unmistakeable. A kestrel. There is nothing else quite like it. Our most widespread falcon may not be able to compete with other birds of prey in terms of size, speed or sheer majesty, but it has probably inspired more people to take up birdwatching than the osprey, peregrine and golden eagle combined. For many in the UK, the 'windhover' is the first raptor we identify or have pointed out to us: a cruciform silhouette suspended over heaths and headlands, moors and motorway verges, its fanned wings weaving sense out of the breeze. Instantly recognisable, common and conspicuous, it has earned a place in our hearts as a familiar friend.
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