Saved by a Gull?

Today we watched as a Peregrine Falcon attacked a flock of Pintails. While most managed to take off and escape, one unlucky drake was forced to dive underwater to escape from the falcon. The falcon missed but continued to press its attack, repeatedly forcing the Pintail to dive. After about a minute of these repeated attacks, the falcon flew off just enough for the Pintail to take flight. The falcon quickly turned and just as it was about to hit the pintail, a Greater Black-backed Gull came streaking in, to uall of us it apppeared the gull had save the pintail. However, this falcon wasn't finished and continued its diving attacks on the pintail, and each time it also appeared that the gull came to its rescue. None of us had ever seen nor head about a gull saving a duck from a falcon. Despite these repeated saves by the gull, this peregrine continued to press its attack, finally forcing the pintail back down onto the water. The duck managed to dive out of harms way several more times before the peregrine finally caught him. At that point, the gull swooped in and again managed to drive the peregine off of the pintail. Another four Greater Black-back Gulls then flew in, finally chasing the falcon away. We all breathed a sigh of relief, thinking what a lucky duck! Until just as suddenly, the pintail's rescuers turn on it. We all stood there in stunned amazement as these gulls then attacked, killed and began eating the pintail.


Northern Pintail



Peregrine Falcon









Greater Black-backed Gull