Just look at these!
Two images caught last month by reader Jamie McCowan on St Vincent Place.
As reported in Issue 343, a family of the birds was seen nesting on the high red chimney of McDonald Rd in August but has since dispersed.
This one, judging by its buff colour, is the juvenile.
A cold walk over Calton Hill this afternoon.
And suddenly we were not alone.
Between the hill and the sky, an amber vibration.
And then this kestrel rippling, attention fixed on the frost-stiffened grass.
Pure concentration.
Sometimes, balancing so high, he was nearly lost to view.
Sometimes, so close, you were relieved not to catch his eye.
Edinburgh is an astonishing city.