Hawk ?

Caught this very unexpected image at South Shields today. My knowledge of birds is quite scant so what is it please?

K5 18-135mm f8 1/160secs ISO 200

I think it's a Kestrel.

Yep - Kestrel

You've got 3 yes's and you're through to the next round

It's a Kestrel. I think this one is a female. The male has a grey head, the female's is brown. It's easier to tell them apart if you can see their back. The male has a chestnut back, the female is rather plain brown/beige.

Oh, and a Kestrel is a member of the genus Falco, which means its a falcon rather than a hawk.

Thanks for all the help and in the next round it's a big black bird with a bit of a tuft on the back of its neck.

Violence on the nesting site.

Take That!!

They are cormorants.

+1

I've never see one beaten over the head with a stick before