Sal
Well-known member
I came out of my place of work yesterday, towards evening, and there was a sudden rush of wings which made me look up. Past my nose, very close, streaked a cape turtle dove and went smack into the wall in front of me. As it did so I saw a falcon (I think. if it was a falcon, it was probably a Lanner) above it, literally tilting on one backswept wing to spin down. As the dove smacked into the wall, it immediately gathered itself together and rose shakily into the air, but very low and fluttered round the corner to where there is a drain in the angle of the building. The falcon, which was travelling incredibly fast had to rise to lift over the roof or it too would have hit the building. I think at the same time, it saw me and gave up the chase, streaking off before I could properly identify it. I went to check on the dove. It was sitting in the bottom of the drain, looking up at me, absolutely still and silent but seeming unhurt in terms of broken wings etc. so I put a plank over part of the drain and left it there. Later when I checked, it had gone. One lucky bird !