An eagle Christmas shopping....................?

rye470 · Post by **rye470** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:01 am

You have all just reminded me of the most amazing thing I witnessed on my front lawn a couple of years ago.

I got up one morning and opened my front room curtains, just in time to see the most enormous bird of prey, kill and eat it's breakfast, on my front lawn.

This huge bird, it must have been an eagle, swooped down out of nowhere, killed a squirrel, and proceeded to have breakfast. It seemed to devour enough to allow it to drag/fly with the remains to the top of a large pile of leaves that were in the corner of the lawn. It then devoured some more before flying off with what was left.

It was pretty gruesome but I was totally mesmerised by the whole thing. And I never even thought to get a camera.

Christine.

trotterbeck · Post by **trotterbeck** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 10:35 am

Hi Rach

the crows who worked in a gang on a starling

It's possible that they were Rooks.
An aide memoir I use is.
A Crow in a crowd is a Rook and a Rook on it's own is a Crow.

Unless your hoodies behave differently.

JimM · Post by **JimM** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:05 pm

rye470 wrote: This huge bird, it must have been an eagle, swooped down out of nowhere, killed a squirrel, and proceeded to have breakfast. It seemed to devour enough to allow it to drag/fly with the remains to the top of a large pile of leaves that were in the corner of the lawn. It then devoured some more before flying off with what was left.

Unfortunately they never brought these birds over when they introduced that grey rodent from America.

'mon the reds (squirrel that is).

Jim

Post by **AnneM** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:50 pm

For the first time in ages I spotted one of our native reds the other day. It was beside the road on one of my wanderings around the Aberdeenshire countryside.....since I have been in Huntly, Strichen and Fraserburgh this week can't remember where but probably on the way back from Huntly.

It was great to see the wee chap, though I don't mind the greys that visit my garden too much if only they would not push the red ones out.

Anne

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:51 pm

Hi Trotterbeck,

Unless your hoodies behave differently.

Yes, they must do as they were definitely crows. Like you I was surprised that there were a few after the poor bird but we also have rooks around us too and it wasn't them. I probably wouldn't have noticed it but the starling was making terrified screaching noises and the 'baddies' were getting quite excited. I think it was mainly one who got stuck into it but I couldn't bear to watch for any length of time as it was so vicious but that's nature, I suppose.
Rae