Hunters

11 February 2014

Wakefield

6.45 p.m.; Wintry weather and we're setting off to Wakefield this evening along slushily wet roads with a covering of snow on the verges, which the wind blows into slushy drifts.

There are reports at the Wakefield Naturalists' Society meeting of a red kite being seen flying low over the cathedral, mobbed by a crow. The nearest that I've ever seen a red kite to the city is from the A1/M1 link road; a year or two ago I spotted one wheeling around over the open country between Aberford and Garforth. They haven't spread as much as they have in other parts of the country and it's possible that persecution has taken its toll on them as one was found that had been shot.

The resident peregrine falcon likes to perch high on the cathedral spire and was seen swooping down on a passing jackdaw, twisting around the spire as it dived down, perhaps using it as cover to make a surprise attack, building up speed as it went, passing within inches of the masonry in its descent. It didn't seem to be attempting to catch the jackdaw, just chasing it out of its territory.

This peregrine has yet to attract a mate, but with a nest platform now in place, attached to the crenellations of the tower, let's hope that this year a female will join him.

As we come out of the meeting there's another hunter in the skies above Wakefield; Orion, with a bright Moon and the planet Jupiter nearby, above his right shoulder.