Perigrine Falcon off Cherbourg

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rotrax

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Leaving Cherbourg Wed.26th Sept. First Mate and I were treated to the sight of a hungry Perigrine Falcon chasing a bunch of Common Terns about three miles offshore. He (or she) missed with their stoop, then singled one out and chased it around for some considerable time, both swooping so low to the sea that we thought they were going in. It was truly breathtaking and we were both pleased when the lucky Tern made its escape. Nature in the raw!
 
Babylon said:
Thanks for that.

Anyone else got similar stories?
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There is an aquarium at Audierne which we visited last year. They also had a selection of birds of prey and were giving a talk on them when a peregrine falcon flew overhead. They apparently hunt pigeons in the town.
 
Peregrins rooting in Chichester Catherdral regularly pick off the pidgeons in the car park at work, not so nice to watch, they reproduce and then teach their offspring to do the same ! Beautiful birds but they make an incredible squarking noise.
 
The family & I spent a happy hour watching an Osprey hunting at Aber Menai this year. We knew they were around the far side of Snowdon & towards Mid Wales, but it looks like they could be nesting near Newborough now.

Pictures were difficult using the cameras we had with us, but here are 2 of the ones we took that help set the scene.


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I had heard there was a pair of nesting peregrine falcons in Vermont (USA) during the winter months so I decided I really wanted to see them and take pictures. This was a number of years back and if I remember in February with a lot of snow on the ground. I managed to climb up a very snowy hill and a nasty ridge line with a pack of camera equipment and a thermous of hot tea. The climb was not easy but I made up to a ridge that had a great look out over the valley. After many hours of freezing my backside and finishing my tea. I saw a circling falcon. I lifted my camera and focused my telefoto lens quickly.....and just as it was about to dive I clicked the the shutter button....only to find the camera was locked. DOH! as I felt like a complete idiot (I know I was) I calmly packed my bags and trudged down the waste deep snow back to the house and a warm fire. To this day I still can't believe I did that.

Here's a picture of a hawk I took a couple years back. At least I got this one in frame although not crystal clear it was fun stalking the bird with a camera.

In the bay we sail in there are Osprey that build very substaintial nests on the channel markers (made to help Osprey). I can sail right past them when they have a a next filled with little ones without disturbing them.
 
Had a sparrow hawk rest on the spreaders when I was in Newtown creek once. Was desperate to encourage him as the starling season was starting but after about 20 minutes he remembered something and flew off.
 
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