Lacock Positive: Lacock Positive Meeting, 19th March 2026

For the first half of this meeting one of our members, Philip Male, shared some of his photographs of the kestrels that he sees from his house. The female kestrel has successfully raised a family of chicks from a nesting box behind Philip's house, for several years and Philip has taken the opportunity to record their lives with his beautiful photos.

The following pictures show an insight into the lives of these beautiful birds, captured with Philip's inimitable style, particularly in some by using a shallow depth of field to introduce a blur of colour.

One intriguing fact about kestrels is the Alula - this is a small group of feathers on the leading edge of the wing, which acts like the birds "thumb" assisting in flight manoeuvres. This is clearly shown in the first of these pictures.

(all the following pictures are copyright Philip Male)

Following our coffee break, we reviewed two members challenges. Continuing our journey through the year, we reviewed the February pictures, and here are some of these - a recurring theme for February is spring flowers, so snowdrops made an appearance along with hellebores. There were also abstract pictures, and brave people taking a plunge in cold water!

Continuing our trek through the alphabet we have reached "U", so here are some of these pictures. I think we are already wondering what we can use for "X".