BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="halftwo" data-source="post: 1678273" data-attributes="member: 45720">Blizzard TiercelFresh snow frozen to old snow and ice crunching noisily along the lanes, and, at first, at least, a low sun striking from the south-east horizon: but this was soon to change.Already from the west a lid of grey cloud was pulling eastwards and snow began to fall.Six Grey partridge frozen by the hedge: no discernable movement from humped backs. Plumped-up Lapwings shook snow flakes and strode slowly amongst iron-hard horse-dung lumps in the paddock, while darkly spangled Starlings strutted in white.Then, from the north-west, escorted by a Snipe, came the Peregrine; lit palely from beneath, fast wing-beats striking snow, and with a final glide to the pylon top, where he settled.Watching me approach with noisy crunches and bobbing his head hungrily to search for prey, he let me pass to the sunward side where better views could be had. Adult and diminutive, time slipped back to the summer's Hobbies briefly - but the insistant winter weather soon slammed that thought shut.Then he was off, sloping a hunting line towards a distant field, beyond the canal. As he disappeared below the trees a hundred unsuspecting Lapwing got up together - he was amongst them. Seconds later he was visible again - empty handed. The waders continued to rise and circle into a sky increasingly full of snow. Now the sun shone through a blizzard and soon was blotted out entirely. Melting flakes stung my cheeks as the falcon disappeared low - back the way his apparition had sprung from the snowy mists.</blockquote>

Verification