After all the recent mobbing posts by UKWildlife, I came across my own version of the game today. This time it was a kestrel being mobbed by a… kestrel. I was a long way off and so the photos aren't up to much but you'll get the picture.
And if that wasn't enough, a few minutes later a kestrel turned on a crow…
Not a wise move…
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens.
gdare
19 Oct 2009😆 That kestrel must be very territorial 😛 Not wise to fight with a local bully (crow) 😀
Cynthia23
19 Oct 2009WOW! What dancing!! :headbang: Great captures WORDS!
SittingFox
19 Oct 2009Wow, someone got up on the wrong side of the perch! :knight: Extraordinary!
anonymous
19 Oct 2009TBR writes:
I love your in-flight shots Words, and you sell yourself short here -these are marvellous!
I have photographed (on flickr) a mob-shot myself – heron versus crow – not really in your league though!
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4018346565&size=large
TBR
anonymous
19 Oct 2009TBR writes:
I love your in-flight shots Words, and you sell yourself short here -these are marvellous!
I have photographed (on flickr) a mob-shot myself – heron versus crow – not really in your league though!
http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=4018346565&size=large
TBR
anonymous
19 Oct 2009TBR writes:
Sausage fingers.
Sorry!
Words
19 Oct 2009Adele, I think that's the first time I've seen kestrels do anything like that in what must be hundreds of hours watching them over the past few years. I somehow expect it of buzzards.
Words
19 Oct 2009Darko, yes I guess they were squabbling over feeding rights.
Words
19 Oct 2009Doug, just took a look at your Flickr page of the heron. Great shots, and stunning colours.
Words
19 Oct 2009Cynthia, thanks!
Ukwildlife
19 Oct 2009Great photos – what is it with raptor mobbing at the moment – perhaps its a bit of migration and abit of pre winter "this is my patch"
Words
19 Oct 2009Neil, could be. Food must be more difficult to hunt in winter (shorter days) so getting a good spot must be all the more important. Plus juveniles will be spreading their wings. Foxes get into plenty of territorial scrapes at this time of year as they play musical chairs with good den sites.
Flying Red Fox Blog
24 Oct 2009An aerial dual very good catch :yes: The Seagulls at Worthing were doing that when i threw bread for them last Saturday, although it looked like a rugby tackle when they all jump on the person with the ball! 😆
Words
24 Oct 2009LOL at the seagulls! They really do squabble among themselves if there's food about
chthoniid
28 Oct 2009Great interaction, but oh to be closer to the squabble with camera. 🙂
Words
29 Oct 2009Brendan, yes just a touch too distant, but I did at least have the right lens with me.