Dodging the Hail storms

I spent a couple of hours on the West Cornwall high grounds early PM today.   The strong wind was creating an icy blow which was also turning frequent storms into hard hitting Hail so not a day for hanging around in exposed locations the likes of the above image for too long.

I had seen a Short Eared Owl go to ground on a high grass slope. It was actively looking around for signs of prey so I patiently waited with my back turned to a couple of icy storms and it finally took to the air rewarding me with the sequence of images posted below before returning once again to the same bank.

As I hurriedly worked my way off of the heath trying to avoid yet another hail storm I was also treated to a few images of a fast moving low flying juvenile Peregrine which is somewhat uncommon for this location

Juvenille Peregrine still present

I returned to check out the juvenile Peregrine which I had seen on the 1st March back in the area  where it had fledged last year.   It was surprisingly still showing and was now crouched tight in on high rock ledges presumable to avoid swooping attacks from its parents that would not want it back in their territory as they start this years breeding programme.

This appeared to be confirmed when the young bird finally took off as it was instantly pursued and harassed by another Peregrine  ( presumable one of its parents ) that came from what would have previously been an unexpected perch point further along the cliffs,

No matter where the young bird went the older Peregrine hassled it with some very aggressive swooping and in the end the young bird flew back onto another tight ledge on the cliffs which made it far more difficult for the older bird to pursue it safely.

This young bird needs to move on and find itself a safe territory before it ends up on the receiving end of some very powerful and lethal talons