16 Oct 2017 late morning
Cherokee Lake, in the Poor Creek Valley vicinity, Hawkins Co.
While fishing from a boat, witnessed at close range as a Peregrine Falcon
pursued a Blue Jay out over the open water. The falcon swooped & the jay
swerved just in time, the falcon arced upward a few feet & dived again.
This happened 3 or 4 times right in front of the boat as the jay frantically
tried to escape. On its last swerve the jay hit the water briefly, but enough
to slow it down considerably & the falcon easily snatched it as it lifted off
the water. The falcon flew back across the lake with its lunch.
Most of this happened about 30-40 feet from me as I sat glued to the action.
Both birds were too focused to notice the boat.
This was the closest & most thrilling prey capture by a Peregrine that I have
ever witnessed.
Rick Knight
Johnson City, TN
