Home»Gallery»Jasper Ridge Galleries»A Day at a Time: Individual Visits»9/13/2018 Autumn on the Ridge: Serpentine Grassland, Oak Woodlands -- and a Kite Devours a Vole -- or Three?»Kite Devours Multiple Voles in One Sitting (??)

I spent some time photographing a kite, perched on top of an oak, the highest spot aroung, devour a vole. But on closer inspection of the photos, I think it may have been THREE voles!?? (Or two, eaten in stages??) This is a mystery: my first guess was, there were two kites, each with a vole, who managed to swap places while I was momentarily distracted, walking closer. But on closer inspection, there are three voles consumed -- and by the same kite, with little time in between for it to go, catch another vole, and return. It is hard to believe that one kite would carry two or three voles to the perch, to devour each in turn. But I have no better explanation. Please leave a comment with your analysis!