Peregrine falcon with kill

[mr.sharp-photo]

I had a good hour at Bluffer's Park. No green heron, but I saw two raptors with their kills. Going through my pics, I realized that the first was either a peregrine falcon (Frank, its 24 x on its band) or a cooper's hawk.  I'm looking at the wing length and am not certain. Think its eating a gull.
i put my camera down for a second and it flew away into the bluffs to eat its brunch.


peregrine falcon with by mr.sharp-photo, on Flickr


peregrine falcon with kill by mr.sharp-photo, on Flickr


peregrine falcon with kill by mr.sharp-photo, on Flickr


peregrine falcon by mr.sharp-photo, on Flickr


peregrine falcon by mr.sharp-photo, on Flickr

The falcon took off in a north west direction towards the trees on the top of the bluffs. when i was walking back to the parking lot (3 minutes later) i saw what I thought was ANOTHER raptor fly by with lunch in its claws. i snuck around it (avoiding eye contact) and took pictures from a distance.  I think its the same bird (its right talon band is black and says "24" but I cannot read the letter, and it has a green band on its left talon) but I'm not sure if lunch was the same.
I watched for 10 minutes as it started to pluck the feathers. the plucking makes me think that it was another bird, but I'm not sure a) if it would drop off lunch for another falcon, b) if it had time to catch another gull in 3 minutes.



peregrine falcon by mr.sharp-photo, on Flickr


peregrine falcon by mr.sharp-photo, on Flickr


peregrine falcon by mr.sharp-photo, on Flickr

*edit* looking at other pics, I'm pretty darn certain its a peregrine.

[thouc]

Yes, it's a Peregrine. Nice one! It looks like a juvenile.

[MEGHAN]

I hate you, ya lucky bastard.
If I said fantastic find and photos I would be stating the obvious kinda in a boring way.
But I'll say it anyways but add a few exclamation points to really express the fact that this is a fantastic find and photos!!!
Great job Richard.
Meghan

[mr.sharp-photo]

thanks.
i think my summer photography sabbatical may be over.

[BoboBird]

Great captures lucky man.

I was at Rosetta today and saw the green heron fly by.

[steve rossi]

What a great set of shots,you captured the action nicely.

[dizzy]

Wow! Nice set. Thanks for sharing.

mike

[Bluffs Birder]

Beautifully captured Richard.  Great looking bird.

Walter

[amack1163]

Trade you a Green Heron for the Peregrine?...Great work!!!

[JW Mills]

Great set Richard!

[ravynne40]

here's one for you...INCREDULOUS! terrific series, stunning and riveting from beginning to end
I would trade the Green Heron for a Peregrine Falcon any day!

[Rob'in'To]

I'm going with "Kick Ass" once again...  not something you see everyday, eh?

[mr.sharp-photo]

I'm going with "Kick Ass" once again...  not something you see everyday, eh?

thanks for the compliments.
it was pretty darn cool, especially when the falcon was dragging the gull up the slope of the Bluffs (the pictures where the falcon's wings are flapping).
truth be told, i'm also excited that I played with new shutter speeds to get relatively crisp pictures from a far distance. its neat that i'm still learning how to take pictures after having this lens for almost 4 years.

[newfoundlander61]

Wow, great set of images. One species I have not seen yet.

[Lloyd]

Excellent series, Mr. Sharp-Photo. I felt I was there myself. Nicely done!