Snowy and the Falcon
PrescottPhotog
Registered Users Posts: 1,174 Major grins
You guys might think I am BS'n with my stories (especially after the hawk hit my lens hood the other day), but I'm not, honest.
Today was a perfectly clear day, not a cloud or a breeze.. just blue skies and dead calm.
I was sitting at the edge of the lake early this morning minding my own business watching a small Snowy that had landed about 20 yards in front of me. All of a sudden I hear a noise (like the sound of a rocket) and it is getting louder and louder. I looked around but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
Then suddenly, a couple feet off my right shoulder and from behind me, this rocket, which by this time sounded like an F-18 fighter jet, passes me in a full tuck. It seemed like it was going 200 miles an hour because in about 2 seconds it was totally out of sight and I never saw a wing move. What I thought was a rocket turned out to be the local Peregrine Falcon making one of their amazing dive attacks. It came back later (small picture) but was to high to get a good shot.
It must have been up and behind me because I never saw it until it passed me but I swear I felt the breeze as it streaked by and the whoosh was so loud it was amazing. I have never seen anything fly so fast. And believe me, they aren't as small close up as they look from far away.
So, I turned my attention back to the Snowy which was in the path of the falcon after it flew by me. There he stood with this freaked look in his eyes and his head feathers standing straight up. Even the feathers between his eyes are standing up. He looked scared to death, like he had just seen a ghost. The falcon passed right over him too and neither of us saw anything until it was hitting the afterburners.
As I mentioned above and as you can see by the reflection in the water around the Snowy's legs, it was dead calm. None of his other feathers are out of place. He stood there stunned like this for about 30 seconds then let his feathers down and went back to fishing. By that time the hair on the back of my neck was back down too, LOL.
#1 (the rocket)
#2 (Snowy-just saw his life pass before his eyes)
Today was a perfectly clear day, not a cloud or a breeze.. just blue skies and dead calm.
I was sitting at the edge of the lake early this morning minding my own business watching a small Snowy that had landed about 20 yards in front of me. All of a sudden I hear a noise (like the sound of a rocket) and it is getting louder and louder. I looked around but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.
Then suddenly, a couple feet off my right shoulder and from behind me, this rocket, which by this time sounded like an F-18 fighter jet, passes me in a full tuck. It seemed like it was going 200 miles an hour because in about 2 seconds it was totally out of sight and I never saw a wing move. What I thought was a rocket turned out to be the local Peregrine Falcon making one of their amazing dive attacks. It came back later (small picture) but was to high to get a good shot.
It must have been up and behind me because I never saw it until it passed me but I swear I felt the breeze as it streaked by and the whoosh was so loud it was amazing. I have never seen anything fly so fast. And believe me, they aren't as small close up as they look from far away.
So, I turned my attention back to the Snowy which was in the path of the falcon after it flew by me. There he stood with this freaked look in his eyes and his head feathers standing straight up. Even the feathers between his eyes are standing up. He looked scared to death, like he had just seen a ghost. The falcon passed right over him too and neither of us saw anything until it was hitting the afterburners.
As I mentioned above and as you can see by the reflection in the water around the Snowy's legs, it was dead calm. None of his other feathers are out of place. He stood there stunned like this for about 30 seconds then let his feathers down and went back to fishing. By that time the hair on the back of my neck was back down too, LOL.
#1 (the rocket)
#2 (Snowy-just saw his life pass before his eyes)
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Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
'
Canon CPS Member
SmugMug Pro User - www.PrescottOutdoors.net
NAPP Member..Click for Info
Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
'
Canon CPS Member
SmugMug Pro User - www.PrescottOutdoors.net
NAPP Member..Click for Info
0
Comments
I believe you.
When I was up north just over a week ago now, I was taking a shot of a molty Cardinal. Just as I lowered the lens, a Northern Harrier swooped in and grabbed a small bird, I think. He was going full speed did over a 90 degree turn thru a brushy tree and as far as I could tell never touched the tree or the Cardinal. All I heard was a pitiful cry from his prey.
Hi Ric, Thanks for reply. Amazing creatures aren't they. I watch the Harriers here do just what you said. Here they fly just above the grass and just above stall speed. They can turn on a dime as well as reverse direction instantly even going as slow as they do. It amazes me to watch them.
I can't describe the sound this guy made going past me or the blur because of its speed.. but it was amazing.
Prescott Photog, Chris - " One Shot, One Still "
'
Canon CPS Member
SmugMug Pro User - www.PrescottOutdoors.net
NAPP Member..Click for Info
"Natura artis magistra"
Dave