More on Peregrines and Buzzards

 Peter Ullrich’s note in the summer edition of CBC News (‘Daylight robbery’, 13: 2 page 34) brought to mind a couple of incidents that Dave Thexton and myself witnessed some years ago.

On 28th May 1977, we were watching Peregrines at a site in south Cumbria. The male was mobbing a Buzzard opposite the Peregrine’s nesting crag when the female flew towards the eyrie with a freshly caught Feral Pigeon. She changed course to join her mate in mobbing the Buzzard and, while doing so, dropped the pigeon which the Buzzard deftly caught in mid-air. The Buzzard then landed with its prize on the fellside and, despite a severe buffeting from both Peregrines, held on to its prey until the Peregrines eventually lost interest.

On 10th June 1978, at the same site, the female Peregrine was again returning to the nest with a freshly caught pigeon when she diverted to mob a Buzzard on the other side of the valley. Again she dropped the pigeon and again the Buzzard seized it, this time as soon as it hit the ground. Despite prolonged mobbing from both Peregrines, the Buzzard retained possession and was eventually left in peace.

A version of the above appeared in British Birds 78: 5, page 193, entitled ‘Opportunistic food acquisition by Buzzard while mobbed by Peregrines’.

Ian Kinley