Birds of Prey, Kestrel

Birds of Prey first day cover produced in association with the International Centre for Birds of Prey featuring the second se-tenant strip of five stamps and the ICBP's Kestrel on the cover design. This stunning cover has a Barnsley first day of issue postmark 04.04.2019, linking together the bird and the 1969 film 'Kes' which celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Kestrel
Once the UK’s most common raptor, observed hovering by roads and motorways, this falcon has seen a decrease of 40 per cent over the past two decades. A key reason for the decline is the lack of sufficient nest sites and suitable grasslands for hunting. Kestrels are characterised by a beautiful chestnut-red colour over their bodies. The female has a red tail with bars, while the adult male has a grey head and grey tail with a black band at its tip. These birds are best known for hunting mice and voles by hovering, often descending in stages to drop on their prey.