Bird is prey! Starving seagulls ATTACK fearsome peregrine falcon in skies above East Anglia
- Peregrine falcon was attacked by group of sea gulls as it flew through the skies above East Anglia on Saturday
- Photographer Chris Skipper said the gulls had fought the falcon to get a hold of the pigeon it was carrying
- Peregrine, which is currently incubating four eggs, sadly lost the pigeon it had caught to the gang of gulls
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Starving seagulls were captured attacking one of Britain’s most elusive birds, the fearsome peregrine falcon, in the skies above East Anglia.
The ambush of the male peregrine falcon by the crazed gulls at Norwich Cathedral was captured in incredible action shots by Chris Skipper at 7.30am on Saturday.
The peregrine was pictured desperately trying to avoid the huge beaks of the gulls which flocked around it in the skies.
A group of seagulls were spotted attacking an fearsome peregrine falcon in the skies above East Anglia on Saturday morning
Photographer Chris Skipper managed to capture the incredible moment the birds launched their attack on the peregrine to get hold of the pigeon it was carrying
The series of pictures shows the gulls approaching the peregine with their beaks wide open as they fight over the pigeon
Mr Skipper said: ‘I’ve been photographing the peregrines for ten years and have never seen anything like it. I didn’t realise I had it.’
The photographer, and wife Kim, were standing in the cloisters when the male peregrine disappeared and they soon heard the seagulls arriving.
The couple estimate there were at least five or six seagulls following the peregrine falcon, which had captured a pigeon.
‘Sadly the pigeon became the property of the gulls but the number of gulls was a concern as the falcons are currently incubating four eggs,’ Mr Skipper said.
Mr Skipper, who has been watching peregrines for years, said there were at least five or six seagulls following the peregrine
Despite the peregrine’s best efforts it was unable to keep a hold of the pigeon. Mr Skipper said the peregrines are currently incubating four eggs
He has followed the peregrines for more than a decade and said it was not typical for the male bird to carry such a big prey item like pigeons.
He added: ‘With the gulls following he did a couple of loops of the cathedral. They were on him, they were screaming and wailing.
‘It is a worry that every time he brings some food back he has to face that. They’re pirating off the peregrines for a meal.
‘I’ve been told the gulls may be starving because there has been less rubbish on the streets for them to scavenge during lockdown.
‘That may explain why they’ve turned on the peregrine for food.’
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