Just a short sequence from yesterday. I was out in the garden watching the skies when the squawking of the local herring gulls alerted me to this sparrowhawk flying overhead.
Most of the gulls were keeping their distance and just being noisy about the passing intruder over their patch. One gull, however, took matters into its own hands (or wings) and commenced on a solo mobbing. These are hefty crops as the action was a considerable distance away.
The sparrowhawk eventually got fed up with the close attentions of the larger bird and dove down across the valley, easily outpacing the gull which was content to return to the main flock.
Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
dW
24 Mar 2014Excellent shots, Words … it seems a little strange that birds the size of gulls should be worried about the attentions of such a small hawk, but I suppose that they might be especially sensitive at this time of year. The chicks are small and helpless, and sparrowhawks are VERY fast.
Words
26 Mar 2014dW, the gulls don’t really want any intruder son their patch, and yes it’s coming up to breeding season. A little early for the gulls, but they will be finding nesting sites and defending from all-comers (other gulls included).
Darko
24 Mar 2014In this case, gull took the role of the predator. Or maybe a “bully & predator”. This is how it goes in their lives 😛
Words
26 Mar 2014Darko, I like the way the gulls act as a team most of the time. The flock takes to the air, screams and edges the intruder away, but it’s nearly always just one or two gulls that risk going in close to give the raptor one final push!
Darko
26 Mar 2014True!