fengreg Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Just got back from a morning shooting pigeons on rape near me, after bagging half a dozen the latest was still flapping on the ground and then a Sparrowhawk came from nowhere and struck it hard, after several minuites tearing off it's feathers it carried it off. Half an hour later a small flight of pigeons came in, I downed the first and winged the second, at that instant while the pigeon was still in the air a Peregrine hit it hard and bound to it, then a second, and a third Peregrine joined in and a right squabble ensued over this pigeon, I watched in amazement as these rapters played and squabbled over this pigeon, dropping it from height, another catching it until they were out of sight, fantastic to see . So the tally for the day, Human 22, Spar 1, Peregrines 1. Not a bad morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark@mbb Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 that must off been an awesome sight mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
islandgun Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 you are very fortunate to see this. About the peregrines iv'e seen adult birds training their young to kill by dropping a pigeon/rock dove for them to practice on, bit late in the year for that though, perhaps they were just playing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Wow, amazing sight. I've had sparrow hawks and buzzards take decoys and shot birds but to see a peregrine take a pigeon in the air is rare. It's lucky you didn't pull the trigger just as it struck as it probably started its dive before you shot the pigeon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lampwick Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 Great to see and hopefully you may see them again but I'm Not sure they fare well with digesting lead shot do they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fengreg Posted January 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Like you said adults with there young, I've heard that they sometimes do stay together until early spring until the adults begin to pair up for the breeding season and then chase of the youngsters off. Lead shot is a problem for them yes, keep my fingers crossed on that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu nesling Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 thats one hungry female sparrowhawk, must have been a bit iffy flying with that weight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmytree Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 PW members are a weird lot! Bunnage starts WW3 with a thread about a closed season for woodpigeons, The otter thread has calls for culling otters just because they like eating oversized goldfish, Peregrines and spars? Everyone loves them! I'm quite disappointed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael170874 Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 I ve seen this on several occaisions while im out pigeon shooting ,this saturday two buzzards sat 30 yds away on a fence post for over half an hour before they got the flask out and sarnies awsome to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 PW members are a weird lot! Bunnage starts WW3 with a thread about a closed season for woodpigeons, The otter thread has calls for culling otters just because they like eating oversized goldfish, Peregrines and spars? Everyone loves them! I'm quite disappointed! you forget her shooting stock dove thread where someone posted picture of a dead one - it's feed an anti week ... roll up roll up .... like lambs to the slaughter Peregrines to a massage table and nail bar ..... that's tame! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Actionpigeons Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 (edited) Just got back from a morning shooting pigeons on rape near me, after bagging half a dozen the latest was still flapping on the ground and then a Sparrowhawk came from nowhere and struck it hard, after several minuites tearing off it's feathers it carried it off. Half an hour later a small flight of pigeons came in, I downed the first and winged the second, at that instant while the pigeon was still in the air a Peregrine hit it hard and bound to it, then a second, and a third Peregrine joined in and a right squabble ensued over this pigeon, I watched in amazement as these rapters played and squabbled over this pigeon, dropping it from height, another catching it until they were out of sight, fantastic to see . So the tally for the day, Human 22, Spar 1, Peregrines 1. Not a bad morning. A lot of poetic licence in use here, but a nice story Edited January 19, 2014 by Actionpigeons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djgeoff Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 i once saw a hawk take a pigeon in flight within feet of me, i was driving slowly through farm and there were two barns / sheds to the right of me with an open entrance to farm yard between the two barns / sheds, my mate was on foot slightly ahead of me to open next gate as he approached 2nd building he spooked a pigeon from it. the next thing i new was a blur directly in front of me and a mass of feathers as this hawk appeared through the yard opening and took the pigeon, that was nice to see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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