The Trajectories of Birds

tony from suffolk

Well-known member
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pwhole

Well-known member
I once saw that happen ten metres away, 70 metres up, on top of the 'new' Co-op building in Manchester which we were finishing off. Two peregrines had taken up residence on the old tower opposite and were happily picking off pigeons in mid-air all day long - it was fantastic to watch.
 

Pitlamp

Well-known member
That's excellent Tony - like pwhole I've seen that happen many a time; in my case this was mainly at Malham Cove whilst getting changed to go in. The peregrines' aerobatics are fabulous to watch (unless you're a pigeon  :eek: ).
 

sinker

New member
Pitlamp said:
That's excellent Tony....
....The peregrines' aerobatics are fabulous to watch (unless you're a pigeon  :eek: ).

Shame we can't bring them to the North Wales coast and give them a taste for seagulls  :mad:

 

Jenny P

Active member
Seen it happen about 20 ft. in front of a bird hide on Spurn Head.  Pregerine appeared out of nowhere and shot through a group of small waders, taking one out as it went.  Took a moment to realise what I'd just seen!

Seen it also on a beach in Orkney when a group of starlings were picking over seaweed at low tide - peregrine appeared out of nowhere from behind me and took one out as it shot past.

Always an amazing sight if you're ever lucky enough to see it happen.  Sadly, no pictures of either event.    :(
 

topcat

Active member
I was birding at Prawl Point years ago when s flock of meadow pipits flew over going like the clappers.  Moments later they were hit by a perri and kestril who nearly collided.  I was close enough to hear the impact as each bird of prey took a pipit.  They both went down on the ground within a couple of meters of each other and covered their prey with their wings and hissed at each other.
Worth getting out of bed at 4am for.......
 

hoehlenforscher

Active member
I was hedging once on my flat field when a peregrine took a pigeon on the wing just in front of me. As he struggled to get height to take his (fat) kill up to the cliffs where his nest was he was set upon by a pair of buzzards. One of the buzzards repeated bashed into him in the air to the extent that eventually he had to drop the pigeon to save his own neck. As the dead bird fell towards the ground the 2nd buzzard swooped in and took it out of the air and carried it off to the big oak tree the other side of the field. I felt sorry for the falcon but very privileged to have witnessed the whole thing from start to finish.
 

tomferry

Well-known member
A few years ago they introduced the red kites here never saw them before now days you see at least 1 a day some times you see a lot more I have seen trees full of them around 20-30 fabulous to view .

I was witness once to waking with a friend and his real
Rabbit skin hat took the interest of a buzzard ! It landed on his Head trying to pull it of I would love to of got this on video !
 

Laurie

Active member
Down and beyond said:
A few years ago they introduced the red kites here never saw them before now days you see at least 1 a day some times you see a lot more I have seen trees full of them around 20-30 fabulous to view.
I had a local Red Kite last summer. It gave me some excellent photo opportunities.
 

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AR

Well-known member
Over in the silly pics thread!

I once had the privilege of seeing a peregrine swoop into a mumuration of starlings right opposite my house in a snowstorm...
 

mikem

Well-known member
Plenty of peregrine across the whole country now, including nesting in towns, don't seem to be particularly interested in seagulls though
 

PeteHall

Moderator
We were in the garden last summer when something went for the starlings, as they scattered, one of them ended up in the kitchen. It all happened so fast, I'm not sure exactly what went for them, but my initial thought was sparrow hawk. Certainly the more exciting side of bird watching!
 

blackshiver

Member
I was climbing on "The Gates of Delirium" on Raven crag in the Lake District. Just got across the traverse and was belaying my second when there was an odd noise like a falling rock and I looked outwards - and down over the trees far below.

The sight I saw is etched in my memory even now.

A "Thing" shot past me, about 10 feet out from the crag (making me jump) its trajectory was about a 45 degree angle and it was just a blur to my eyes. My eye followed the line of the "blur" and there was a swiftly flapping pigeon way down below - flying over the trees.
The pigeon suddenly jerked very sharp right and dropped into the canopy. The "Blur" overshot, slowed down and turned into a Peregrine - who made a right hand turn like a supertanker and then wondered where its quarry had gone.

Fantastic.
 
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