Saturday 23 September 2017

Venus Pool - Peregrine mayhem!

During one of my talks on Shropshire Peregrines recently, I commented, "A few moments spent watching a hunting Peregrine will likely be the highlight of your day"? Well today that rang so true! A Saturday morning and no-one else present on the reserve, just 4 Little Egrets and 3 Green Sands of note! The Lapwings announced the imminent arrival (then left sharpish)... and then the anticipated Peregrine moment to savour, as a juvenile male bombed in scattering the few birds in all directions! I'll let the images tell the story...

Skimming the water like a Hobby chasing Dragonflies but this Peregrine was after larger prey!




And it looked like curtains for this Black-headed Gull until it took to the water!




Wheeling round at the end of the pool...





And then flying up to the North end...




Yet another try to force a duck to leave the safety of the water?


Diving helps!




One last circuit of the pool, like a low flying jet...




And then realising there was nothing in view to catch!



Up up and away....


Yep, just about the most exciting 90 seconds spent at VP this year, and as for making the day - no contest!!