CHAS7018axax

I had spent the afternoon in the caravan hide, just relaxing really and half hoping for a Buzzard to come like one did on Tuesday. I have had a few days of worry with my eyes and it's not been a great deal of fun to be honest. It was quiet and pleasant, I listened quietly to the radio and drank coffee, what could be better?  At 5 I decided to pack up and leave. Outside, I began to sort the trail camera when I suddenly heard the unmistakeable scream of a Peregrine. It took me 5 seconds to react, I rushed to the gate to see a Buzzard leave the middle of the field and fly strongly away….. a Buzzard?  I had heard a Peregrine. Then I suddenly I saw it!  It was holding a wood pigeon down and I watched it pulling feathers from the fresh kill.  I have watched Peregrines for hundreds of hours at the site  where I am licensed to photograph and have seen them with kills on numerous occasions  but seeing this bird here, so close to my caravan and in an environment where I hadn't expected it was exhilarating.   I snapped off a few photographs and then shuffled on my backside towards it using my knees as a tripod for the camera.  I took more photos, it was quite an encounter.  It seems that there had been an attempt by the buzzard to grab the kill from the Peregrine, some interesting behaviour. This is the Buzzard's territory for sure which might explain why the Buzzard had the confidence to approach the Peregrine in an aggressive way.  The Peregrine was a juvenile "brown" rather than bluish/grey adult. I looked very carefully for any sign of coloured leg rings because it would be interesting to see if it was potentially one of the Exeter St David's Church juveniles from this year, or previous. However, it definitely didn't have a ring.  It would be even more interesting if it happened to be the bird from my licensed breeding site which is only a few miles away but of course I have absolutely no way whatsoever of knowing that.  All in all, a massively interesting and thrilling sighting.

Closer up

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