Fellside Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 While using a pigeon flapper last year (a device I much favour these days), a large peregrine, presumably female, stooped from a great height and gave the mounted dead pigeon a glancing blow. Despite my waving and shouting it repeated this attack twice more without actually touching it - but only inches off. It seems that once they are locked on to their prey, no amount of distraction deters the attack. While I was thrilled to witness such a spectacular display, I was concerned that the bird could have become wounded by striking the Flapper’s metalwork - and was relieved when it left. After the first stoop, I had switched the flapper off by the way. This reoccurred once more last year. Then a couple of days ago, a friend of mine had just harvested pre-ripened barley for crimping and was suffering significant laid crop damage in the adjacent field. I set up on the stubble - close to a laid patch in the standing crop - with my usual decoy assortment and flapper. Soon I noticed a peregrine wheeling and then sure enough she flicked through a turn and stopped with astonishing speed. This time I was quick to press the ‘off button’ and she didn’t touch the pigeon - but was very close. She recovered from the stoop by lifting only a few feet in front of me. I enjoyed a close up of her underside and face as she ripped through the air - marvellous. As before, she made two more aborted stoops before wandering off. Over the years I have also had the flapper attacked by buzzards - although never actually touching it. Although I did have a sparrow hawk once land on a plastic shell back decoy - and I could actually hear its claws scratching at the plastic as it turned about trying to sink it’s talons. This one darted away and didn’t make any repeated attempts. Had it landed on one of the many real pigeon decoys arranged about it, my visitor would have enjoyed a tasty meal. Are these bird of prey attacks unusual? Has anyone else had similar experiences? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perazzishot Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 Had it a few times, peregrines, buzzards, sparrowhawk and a fox come into the pattern using plastic and dead bird decoys. Always give myself a pat on the back if I have managed to fool these into believing it is a real pigeon feeding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GingerCat Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 Had a buzzard fly over a plastic floater and "tickle" its back with its talons. Flew into the wind at walking pace almost as it did so. I have that somewhere on video I think. Had another bird hit a shot bird used as a decoy, at speed and then start eating it till waved off. I didn't want it ingesting lead. Doesn't happen often but it does happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Good shot? Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 Had a Buzzard knock a lofted decoy out of a tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landy george Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 I've had Buzzard pick up a crow decoy & drop it about 20yds out when it found out it was plastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 had a buzzard hit one of my plastic decoys.......the funny thing was the look of the buzzard just standing there wuith the deek.............it really didnt know what to do with it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeedsZeppelin Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 1 hour ago, Perazzishot said: Always give myself a pat on the back if I have managed to fool these into believing it is a real pigeon feeding. That's a good way of looking at it. I suppose it shows you are using the decoys efficiently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 Forty years ago I had a female Kestrel hovering over my pigeon decoys. I never expected an attack, but when I shot a pigeon the Kestrel followed it down as it dropped and bound on to it for a few moments before flying away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinj Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 yes I have had sparrow hawks hitting my decoys on a couple of occasions plus one incident with a Kite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellside Posted July 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 Interesting that buzzard attacks are being seen. I have noticed that if a pricked pigeon drops in near by woodland - it sometimes has the head missing and breast ripped open by a buzzard when I go to pick it. I might start leaving a few steel shot birds lying around - as an offering to keep them off the pheasants for a while....?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joejoe Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 I have had a fox bite my rotary wing duck decoy while on the marsh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted July 16, 2020 Report Share Posted July 16, 2020 I have just had the same thing this afternoon with a buzzard on the flapper. Rather than drop down onto it as I have seen a few times, this one swooped over the hill behind me and hit it at speed. I heard the whoosh and turned to see it knock the lot over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strimmer_13 Posted July 17, 2020 Report Share Posted July 17, 2020 Had a peregrine hit my dead decoy before, it was really good to watch. I was surprised the kites or buzzards never showed an interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aister Posted July 18, 2020 Report Share Posted July 18, 2020 Never had a bird of prey on a decoy but I did watch an otter one morning trying to get hold of one of my mallard decoys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enfieldspares Posted July 18, 2020 Report Share Posted July 18, 2020 Why is it that my plastic shell decoys (especially if placed on top of a bale) often fool raptors yet even more often don't fool actual other pigeons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted July 18, 2020 Report Share Posted July 18, 2020 Raptors are looking for small groups of pigeons on the deck. Woodies are heading back to where they have just fed. They are looking for different things really. Even if you put out lots of freshly killed birds in the perfect pattern with every flapper, rotary and bouncer the woodies will not come in. If they are feeding on a field all you need is a couple of bottles painted grey and they’ll commit. The quality of decoys is to attract people to buy them rather than pigeons to land! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted July 18, 2020 Report Share Posted July 18, 2020 Have had it with a buzzard on crows, dropped a crow and within 5 seconds it had been picked up and flown off with. Then out one evening on fox, waited 2hours with no show so dropped a rabbit for the pot and just after it dropped the fox jumped out the hedge and took the rabbit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted July 18, 2020 Report Share Posted July 18, 2020 3 minutes ago, ShootingEgg said: Have had it with a buzzard on crows, dropped a crow and within 5 seconds it had been picked up and flown off with. Then out one evening on fox, waited 2hours with no show so dropped a rabbit for the pot and just after it dropped the fox jumped out the hedge and took the rabbit. I have taken to dropping a few rabbits and leaving them out for fox as I look elsewhere. Often they are gone when I return but I dont see the fox. I should peg them I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted July 19, 2020 Report Share Posted July 19, 2020 had several raptors try pinching one from the pattern strangest behaviour is pigeons having their evil way with the dead birds i use shot several at it might have to deploy mini skirts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MirokuMK70 Posted July 19, 2020 Report Share Posted July 19, 2020 I've had a peregrine whack a dead bird on a flapper. The look of confusion when it was ripping into it, but the bird refused to 'die' was priceless... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fellside Posted July 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2020 Interesting replies - thanks! Obviously not just me then. Thought I was the only hawk magnet out there...?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted July 24, 2020 Report Share Posted July 24, 2020 Just to add: I've had a bird of prey swoop down and, on one occasion, pick up a Crow decoy, then releasing it very quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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