We all know that the peregrine is the fastest bird on the planet, and when it stoops it accelerates faster than a Ferrari. Nobody seems to know for sure quite how fast, and estimates range from a modest 120mph to a less plausible 250mph. What I do know is that it’s all over in the blink of an eye, as I was reminded last month at the British Falconers’ Club (BFC) International Field Meet at Woodhall Spa. I made the mistake of trying to photograph a stooping peregrine, but would have been much more sensible to have simply watched.
The falcon was a three-year peregrine tiercel being flown by Robert Woolstencroft, the quarry wild grey partridges. After an unsuccessful morning with nothing in the bag we were running short of ground, for the wind had been too strong, the partridges
