Earlier this week, I noticed some bird droppings at the base of a wall at Ackworth School. Amongst the droppings, I could see that there were many pellets. I checked the spot on two consecutive evenings and I found that a kestrel flies in to roost at dusk each day. The Georgian buildings have guttering supported by cast iron brackets and the kestrel finds shelter by perching on these.
roosting kestrel in Ackworth
kestrel pellet
kestrel pellets
In the same area, a barn owl was seen flying over Ackworth School a week ago and a member of staff saw two barn owls flying over a field alongside Station Road, opposite the school, more recently. The sighting of two owls is encouraging as there is a possible nesting site nearby.