Well I promised in the last blog that I'd tell the story about the stunning male peregrine in pictures as not only was it an amazing sequence of events to watch I also managed to get some nice photo's and video to accompany it!
I do have to say though that it actually took place on North Duffield Carrs near York where me and my partner Masha were out on an away day, I just thought it was a great example for us all of how birds interact and benefit (or don't as the case may be!) by each others hunting activity.
It all started when the wildfowl we were watching were lifted by a marsh harrier but then went really mad, this was off course because the ultimate predator a peregrine had turned up, and it certainly meant business!
The marsh harrier in the thick of the panic!
Together they downed a teal - although I suspect they were not working together, just taking advantage of each others hunt (the peg is on the left and harrier on the right swooping on the teal, you may have to enlarge to see clearly)
But it was the peregrine that got the prize a male teal as it foolishly tried to fly - as you can see its a lovely Juvenile bird, possibly a second year and I think possibly a male?
You can clearly see the teal on this one as its being plucked!
But the harrier wanted a bit of the action! And it certainly was going to take no for an answer
And it managed to move it off the carcass, only to be knocked off it almost immediately for the peregrine to retrieve its dinner
Looks who's behind you!
The peregrine managed to take off quite a bit of the meat with the harriers waiting nearby
And a bit of video of the peregrine plucking
But then a hungry great-black backed gull turned up. These beasts of the gull world often hunt and kill things but do like to scavenge
Then as the peregrine was chasing off the marsh harriers the gull moved in and although the peg tried to move it this big beast was not intimidated!
Face off - you ca see the gull is on the carcass now
Interesting that the first thing the gull ate was the stinking innards of poor teal, a different feeding strategy to the peregrine, Masha particularly enjoyed this bit!
It then finished off all the carcass bar one wing!
If you think its all over, well it certainly isn't, look who turned up to make the most of the meager pickings, not one but two buzzards!
And then finally the crows and another Great-black back moved in for the scraps with the peregrine sat in the distance on a post looking a bit miffed but still well fed.
Interestingly it was the poor old marsh harriers that didn't get a morsel!
In the end the poor but noble teal had not died in vain and gone towards feeding at least four other species of birds!
What a fantastic three quarters of an hour, birding at its best especially if like us you like to watch bird behaviour as much as seeing different birds.
The day after we went in search of common (mealy) redpoll - but then that's another story.................