A remarkable sight !
Paul Freestone took a phone call from Tim Twiggs informing him of a GREY PHALAROPE at Gothian (Cornwall). This was a 'patch-tick' for Paul (not a lifer as the National Media portrayed) and 30 minutes later, Paul joined Tim at the site. The bird was still showing well and after 40 minutes of viewing, the bird swam around the edge of the island on the main pool. It then flew across to the close bank allowing Paul to get some photographs. However, just as he was lifting his lens to fire off, a COMMON BUZZARD flew in and sat on the sandbank closeby. It then swooped low over the water and grabbed the unsuspecting phalarope, landed with it briefly and then flew back across the water to eat it. An incredible occurrence and one that Paul captured on film and immortalised !
Grey Phalaropes have a knack of falling foul to raptors with the Wilstone Reservoir juvenile of last autumn carried away by a Hobby
