The fastest creature on Earth

These aren't the best photos I have taken but they were some of the most exciting and most challenging.  I went to RSPB Bempton Cliffs on Tuesday, mainly to look at the gannets (more on those another time).  As I was starting to walk out to leave a Peregrine Falcon appeared.  Seeing it in real life was astonishing.  It appears from nowhere, very high and moving fast.  Several times it moved into a stoop by folding its wings and within seconds it was half mile away.  I was trying to take some photos but it was really hard even to find the bird through the viewfinder and then hard for the focus to lock on.  At one point it flew past at eye level only about 20 metres from the cliff edge but it was probably travelling at well over 100 miles an hour and was gone in a flash.  The best of the photos is above.  These next few show the peregrine pulling its wings in as it accelerates into a dive.

This is an uncropped view of the peregrine through the super telephoto lens, disappearing rapidly in the distance.

I didn't see it catch anything.  There were thousands of birds in the air but I think it was hunting pigeons - there were plenty around.  When I was closer to them several times they all took off and flew around in a tight group so I suspect they had seen a peregrine, although I hadn't at that stage.

I watched the peregrine on and off for about 20 minutes.  It was a thrilling experience and amazing to see how fast it moves over huge distances in real life.

A couple of weeks ago I watched a wonderful film The Birds by Martin Dohrn.  He is an expert wildlife cameraman yet even he was having trouble following a peregrine as it was hunting over The Wash.  You probably saw the film as well but if not it is available on the BBC iPlayer here. Next time I go to Bempton Cliffs I shall be forewarned and I'll try to do better with the photos.