8.  KESTREL. Falco tinnunculus, Linnaeus.  French, “Faucon cresserelle.”—­The Kestrel is by far the commonest hawk in the Islands, and is resident throughout the year.  I do not think that its numbers are at all increased during the migratory season.  It breeds in the rocky parts of all the Islands.  The Kestrel does not, however, show itself so frequently in the low parts—­even in the autumn—­as on the high cliffs, so probably Ring Dotterell, Purres, and Turnstones do not form so considerable a part of its food as they do of the Merlin.  Skylarks, Rock and Meadow Pipits, and, in the summer, Wheatears, with a few rats and mice, seem to afford the principal food of the Kestrel, and to obtain these it has not to wander far from its breeding haunts.

The Kestrel is quite as common in Alderney and Herm, and even in the little Island of Jethou, as it is in Guernsey and Sark.  One or two pairs, perhaps more, breed on the before-mentioned rock close to Jethou “La Fauconniere,” though a few pairs of Kestrels breeding there would scarcely have been sufficient to give it its name.

It is mentioned in Professor Ansted’s list, but only marked as occurring in Guernsey and Sark.  There are two specimens, a male and female, in the Museum.

9.  SPARROWHAWK. Accipiter nisus, Linnaeus.  French, “L’Epervier,” “Tiercelet.”—­The Sparrowhawk, though a resident species and breeding in the Islands, is by no means so common as the Kestrel.  In fact, it must certainly be considered rather a rare bird, which perhaps is not to be wondered at, as it is a more tree-breeding bird and less given to nesting amongst the rocks than the Kestrel.  It does so sometimes, however, as I saw one fly out of some ivy-covered rocks near Petit Bo Bay the last time I was in the Islands on the 27th of May, 1878.  I am certain this bird had a nest there, though the place was too inaccessible to be examined closely.  The trees, however, at the Vallon or Woodlands would be much more likely nesting-places, especially as it might have an opportunity of appropriating a deserted nest of a Magpie or a Wood Pigeon, rather a favourite nesting-place of the Sparrowhawk.

Professor Ansted includes the Sparrowhawk in his list, but confines it to Guernsey and Sark; and probably, as a resident and breeding bird, he is right as far as my district is concerned, but I should think it must occasionally occur both in Alderney and Herm, though I have never seen a specimen from either Island, nor have I seen the bird about alive in either.  There is one specimen in the Museum.

10.  COMMON BUZZARD. Buteo vulgaris, Leach.  French, “Buse.”—­The Buzzard is a tolerably regular, and by no means uncommon, autumnal visitant, specimens occurring from some of the Islands almost every autumn.  But it is, I believe, an autumnal visitant only, as I do not know of a single specimen taken at any other time of year, nor can I find a record of one.  I have seen examples in the flesh from both Alderney and Herm, in both of which Islands it occurs at least as frequently as it does in Guernsey, though still only as an autumnal visitant.