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Message: <blockquote data-quote="halftwo" data-source="post: 1268095" data-attributes="member: 45720">Yes; the prey species I've seen (Swallows & House martins) often allow close approach of the raptor during these "casual" encounters. I've seen them flying with the raptor rather than getting the hell out, as they usually do.The other day I watched a  Hobby flying slowly amongst Swallows/martins (in the same general direction). It didn't look like a hunt, but she came away with a meal.I've seen Swifts flycatching with a Hobby - unperturbed until the Hobby suddenly changed to 'Swift mode' and then they did what they usually do as soon as they see a Hobby - scarpered.I've seen a similar thing with Peregrine - circling casually with a Kestrel - until it shifted and the hunt was on.On both these occasions the demeanour and the wing shape (subtly) altered - both Hobby and Peregrine's wings became sleeker - less in soaring mode (where the wing is flexed to increase the feather spread) and they appeared to shake off their pacific nature to become predator.I cannot imagine that this casual approach optimises flight characteristics - raptors are on the edge of capabilities when hunting at speed - and therefore must have wings etc. in exactly the optimum position during these times.Of course proving this is another matter! So much data and so many variables.It is an uncommon thing to observe these quirks - I'd be interested to hear from others like Graham (Bitterntwisted) who have more observations of other raptors. (I've never seen a Merlin do what he describes - but I would sum my minutes of watching that falcon flying to maybe twenty or thirty only.)H</blockquote>

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