This is not a strictly chronological series, but the shots were all taken within a 3 minute period this morning from our garden. I'd stepped outside to see what the weather was like. Dry, some sun, and blue skies. So not bad at all. It was quiet, until fist some gulls exploded into a raucous chorus,
Sudden changes in bird activity are always interesting. It means something is around that's got them worried, and in the case of the noisy gulls it was this. 
A peregrine over the garden is a very major treat. They do come over occasionally, but this one was marginally lower than usual and was flying towards the light.
The peregrine continued its flight out towards the Downs, and then a minute or so later flocks of pigeons took to the air.
I scoured the sky to see if the peregrine had returned in hunting mode, but it hadn't. The pigeons had been disturbed by that other scourge of small birds, the sparrowhawk, coming in on an almost identical flight line. And sparrowhawks being sparrowhawks, it was cruising in at a lower altitude.
All the local birds survived the attentions of both hunters. This time!
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
derWandersmann
17 Dec 2012Nice shots, Words … the local raptors here are usually at much greater heights, except when they're working patches of ground where you can't stop to get a shot.
SittingFox
18 Dec 2012Seeing a peregrine over your garden is definitely a treat. The pigeons must think themselves quite hard done by!
Words
19 Dec 2012Adele, I had a feeling we'd have a raptor parade. the conditions were just right to draw them out, especially at this time of year when they need to make best use of the decent conditions. A bit of a shock to get two in succession though.
Words
19 Dec 2012dW, thanks! They tend to cruise overhead when I'm at home. There are better locations for getting close, but being at the top of the Downs we're generally closer to them anyway as they fly between the hills and valleys.