An Unexpected Encounter with a Duck Hawk

Peregrine Falcon aka Duck Hawk

Have you ever heard of a "Duck Hawk"? It's another name for the fastest animal on Earth, the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). A few weeks ago, I witnessed this incredible predator harassing teals at the WSR, but surprisingly, it was unable to catch any of them.

Here's what unfolded:

For several weeks, I'd been patiently stalking two duck species at the Woodbourne Shorebird Refuge (WSR), not just for documentary shots, but to capture their beauty in different lighting conditions. 

Northern Pintails drake

My initial focus was on the stunning male Northern Pintails (Anas acuta), three of which frequented the location. Unfortunately, I never quite captured the image I envisioned.  Once these birds migrated, my attention shifted to the Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca). Three males in breeding plumage graced the ponds here, and my goal was to photograph them as sunlight illuminated the iridescent crescent on their heads. However, I was consistently falling short.  On one particular afternoon, I was meticulously positioning myself for the perfect light to photograph the teal when, suddenly, the egrets in a nearby tree took flight. Glancing up, I saw the bird of prey circling and gliding lazily overhead. Under normal circumstances, this aerial predator would've grabbed my attention, but today, I was laser-focused on capturing the perfect Green-winged Teal image.

Green-winged Teal

Everything changed in a flash. A powerful whoosh of wings filled the air as the falcon launched into a diving attacking the ducks on the pond. It circled repeatedly, executing multiple dives, but each attempt ended with empty talons. These birds seemingly seasoned veterans of such encounters, darted towards the high west bank, seeking refuge in the thick vegetation. The peregrine, despite its relentless pursuit, couldn't force them to abandon the safety of the bank or take flight. After five or six failed attempts, the falcon finally gave up, slowly drifting high into the sky. 

Snowy Egret high up

As I followed its ascent, I noticed a Snowy Egret even higher, far above the falcon. Perhaps escaping to that altitude seemed like the perfect strategy for the egret, but in reality, it wasn't entirely safe from the "king of the skies." I got my camera ready, as I anticipated an aerial duel that the snowy wouldn't survive – the peregrine, now positioned perfectly above the egret, could've easily made a quick kill. However, for this afternoon at least, the falcon remained fixated on a duck dinner, completely ignoring the egret.

Peregrine Falcon inspecting the ponds at WSR

This unexpected encounter at the WSR not only highlighted the Peregrine Falcon's incredible aerial hunting skills but also showcased the remarkable survival instincts of its intended prey.