After being harrassed by a Black Kite the Peregrine relocated to the beach................
It was more worried about thieving kites than a human with a camera. It let me approach pretty close: these shots are either uncropped or only slightly cropped for composition.
As you can see it was a pretty gory business.......................
The downy feathers have got to tickle though...............
Was the unfortunate duck a female Harlequin perhaps? Or female Scaup or even female Black Scoter?
Whatever it was the falcon ate most of it......................
It was very dark and raining but I'm pretty happy with these shots. A bit repetitive but when will I be so close to a wild feeding Peregrine again?
A Kite came back to pester it again so off it went.............scattering all the gulls along the beach................
Brilliant shots .... as ex-ducks are not "tickable" I shan't worry about the ID of that.
ReplyDeleteHi John, if it had been an ex Stellers Eider I would have been presented with a dilemma...............
DeleteExcellent pictures and great view at that angle. Rare to get such a close show!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe it didn't fly off..........................
DeleteHello Stuart!:) Wonderful captures!:) Nice to see a Peregrine Falcon so close up, even though the pictures are as you say pretty gory. I concentrated more on the beautiful decorative plumage, and that penetrating gaze.
ReplyDeleteActually speaking of gore I just watched the first episode of the new season of 'The Walking Dead' and was immediately reminded of this peregrine......................
DeleteWOW! You were so fortunate that it let you get so close . It must have been very hungry. these are a absolutely fabulous set of images.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret, actually when it flew off later it was actually eating as it was flying..................
DeleteAmazing! Those eyes are so intense.
ReplyDeleteThanks Wilma, it was staring me out so I wouldn't steal its lunch...................
DeleteLove the Perigrine shots Stu, probably my favourite bird.
ReplyDeleteThanks Derek, I never got this close on the Ribble.....................
DeleteIt would be a dream come true to get anywhere near a peregrine, let alone that close!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. Like I said, at the time I simply couldn't believe it didn't fly off......................I guess it was a) pretty hungry and b) more worried about other birds (trying to steal its food) than me.
DeleteThis is a really impressive sequence and you have captured it so well. I envy you the experience of being able to watch it for so long, and at such close range. I have only ever seen a Peregrine capture prey once. The unfortunate victim in that case was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
ReplyDeleteHi Davis, I didn't see it catch the duck...................just the bloody aftermath.
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