![American kestrel takes a dive American kestrel takes a dive](https://photos.smugmug.com/Tonys-Takes/n-hsSJf/2022/02-13-2022-Longmont-Eagle-Mead-Eagle-Nest-Adco-Kestrel-Red/i-3W3JRCs/0/cff50ff0/X4/20220213%2010-17-27%200295-Edit-X4.jpg)
Watching these little falcons hunt is always a ton of fun. They will furiously flag their wings and hover over a spot, looking down trying to spot some unsuspecting prey (usually mice or voles). With their target in sight, they then dive at full speed, slamming into their target and nabbing a meal.
Catching that action is very difficult as these guys are quite small and fast. I watched this one working a field and was lucky enough to catch pics of it as it plummeted toward the ground. It was a long shot so this is pretty heavily cropped but a fun bit of action to see.