19th September. Four Star Petrel

Waking to drizzle and what I could only describe as less than ideal conditions it was more than a little tempting to get back in to bed. Despite this I got up and by 7:20 was on my way to Orgreave. As I dragged myself to the shore I was musing yesterdays Fea's and thinking how it had put a bit of a dampener on my weekend. The rain wasn't helping much, but suddenly out of the corner of my eye I noticed a group of gulls harassing a smaller bird. Presuming it would be the Black Tern that was wandering all over the valley I picked my bins up. It was black...BLACK my brain screamed...SHIT LEACH'S PETREL!! Almost immediately it disappeared out of view around the point. I ran, faster than I had run in a long time probably even faster! By the time I'd reached the viewing pole my run had descended in to a near crawl and I was shaking like a shitting whippet! Fortunately the gulls were still pursuing it and I managed to scope it before it dropped down near the waters edge. Cursing myself for leaving the SLR at home I fished around for the trusty Samsung and grabbed a few seconds of very shakey video footage before the gulls set about it again.
Settling again I hurriedly made a few phone calls including one to Jo suggesting that if she wanted to see Leach's Petrel she should get up and to bring my camera! A Carrion Crow had made a few passes at it, at one point almost grabbing it. The Petrel seemed to have had enough and started to gain height. I watched it flying almost swift like over Treeton village, as it began to drop towards Catcliffe I was thinking it would drop on the flash, out of nowhere it was whacked by a Sparrowhawk. A sad end for a smart bird.


7 comments:

ken roberts said...

got up and for some reason paid a visit to orgreave. pity it was just after 9am.

John Hague said...

What is with Leach's Petrels? Why do they upset other birds in such a way as they want to kill them?

Alan Whitehead said...

Great find on the patch!

Anonymous said...

must be the all the pies slowing you down, i suggest you forget extra cameras, you need to equip yourself with a de-fib machine £1,000

Mark said...

And an oxygen tank..

Pete said...

Nice find, I'm well jealous! Glad you got to see it before its sticky end.

Unknown said...

Are you sure it wasn't a Black Guillemot??