This post records a pretty spectacular incident that I witnessed earlier in the week.
Approaching one of my favourite spots, a small bush dam along South German Track, a flurry action unfolded directly above me.
Three different birds were involved, sadly I only scored 2 out of 3!
I spotted the largest bird first, a White-necked Heron, looking decidedly nervous. Directly above the heron, perhaps at a distance of about 50 metres, was a Peregrine Falcon, readying itself to dive.
Of course I missed the shot … perhaps distracted by the appearance of a Square-tailed Kite which entered at stage left, at pretty much the same height as the heron. The kite, like the falcon, also seemed interested in the heron. While a Square-tailed Kite might happily take a nestling heron, a flying adult would be well outside its usual prey range. A Peregrine on the other hand will happily take large birds such as herons, ibis and the like, even when they exceed the body weight of the falcon.
As I was lining up on the falcon it veered away, disappearing in seconds via rapid level flight to the north. In the meantime the heron soared upwards in a series of tight circles, while the kite slowly meandered just above the canopy until I lost sight of it after a minute or so.
The entire ‘performance’ lasted for no more than 90 seconds … the image of the stooping falcon remains, for now, only in my mind’s eye.

Square-tailed Kite, Mia Mia area, 1st March 2021

II

White-necked Heron

II

III
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