This morning was icy again down to -3 but clear and sunny. Up at the coast field yesterdays Fieldfare flock appeared very agitated and approached much closer than last time. A scan of the field showed the cause of their concern.
The Peregrine had already reduced their number by one and was getting stuck in to breakfast. After about 20 minutes he flew over head towards the Old Rectory and settled in the trees in their garden where it could be heard calling. Crows piled in to further annoy the marauder causing it to fly, this time circling to gain hieght. One crow pushed his luck too far. When it mobbed the Peregrine out of sight behind the trees I thought that was it gone, but seconds later both crow and peregrine came racing back out the otherside, but roles were reversed. The Peregrine made some great playing stoops at corbie, calling all the while before relaxing and drifting away.
I bet the crow will think twice about who he picks on in future.
After the excitement, the whole village remained in a hushed silence for a while, as if the birds were thinking 'thank god that wasn't me'....
5 comments:
I want to live in Boulmer - every day is a veritable wildlife-fest!
Hello Gordon,
Thats got me thinking.
When I lived in Pegswood I walked my old dog on the reclaimed Pit Heap and saw Water Voles, Water Shrews, Ermine, Waxwings, Peregrine, Whinchat, Green Sandpipers, Crossbill, Redstarts, Great crested Newt etc. At Stobswood with same dog I saw Hooded Crows, Glaucous Gull, Wood Warbler, Hawfinch on my bird table, Red backed Shrike, Short eared Owl,roding Woodcock, Deer, Camberwell Beauty, Convolvoulous, Hummingbird, Poplar and Elephant Hawkmoths etc and now I live up north, well you know about that...
Wildlife is there if we look for it ;)
Wander the wooded and wet areas around Cramlington and I'm sure great things will appear ( they already have! I saw a Bittern at Arcot Pond once...)
Living in the city, you don't really get to appreciate these things, except for in a picture or movie. These picture are fantastic, and I could see them as still shots from a national geographic or discover channel episode.
Wow, that's an interesting story. I've seen the crows here chase off hawks. Interesting to watch. I love the picture of the frog or is it a toad?, at the top of your blog.
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