Kestrel 1 Rat O

This morning, my husband spotted a kestrel in the garden. I missed it the first time. My husband looked out  again and watched as the female kestrel dove down from on high and neatly caught a large rat.
The kestrel was absolutely goregous as she sat on her wriggling prey. It  was one large rat. When disturbed by the ducks, she flew with the rat hanging from her talons to a far corner of the garden where she could enjoy it in peace.
I hate rats!  And I did discover evidence of the same in the compost pile. The compost has now been scattered on the garden.
However because we have tawny owls nesting the owl box, I had not put poison out. Thankfully the kestrel decided to do its job. Hopefully the owls will join in.
Fingers crossed that it nests nearby. I would like the rat population cleared out.
We already do protect any ducklings which happen along, until they are large enough, so I am not worried about the ducks or the hens.