Ravenous raven makes off with a rabbit lunch
By Western Morning News | Friday, May 04, 2012, 08:00
A little rabbit suffered a grisly end after this hungry raven snatched it from a field and flew off with it clamped in its beak.
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Bob Sharples' photograph shows the raven flying off with a rabbit in his beak near Marazion Marsh in Cornwall
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Raven surveys scene at Marazion
Amateur photographer Bob Sharples took this remarkable picture after he spotted the cruel twist of nature out of the corner of his eye.
Bob, a retired Royal Navy petty officer, was driving near Marazion Marsh, near Penzance, when he noticed a "black shape carrying something rather large in its beak".
He said: "I turned the car around, grabbed my camera and zoomed in. When I realised what it was I thought it was pretty amazing. I've had a couple of shots with birds with prey, but nothing like this."
Experts yesterday revealed Bob had witnessed a once in a lifetime occurrence.
Gary Lewis, from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said: "I have never seen a raven carrying a piece of prey that size – and I have been looking at nature for 50 years. It is certainly unusual, and amazing to capture it on camera.
"Ravens are opportunist feeders and my guess is that this rabbit had either died of natural causes or was sick and therefore easy prey, because it's unlikely a raven could have caught it if it was a healthy rabbit."
Bob, from Helston, added: "It was Easter Friday that I took the picture and I remember thinking, 'it's not a very good Easter for this bunny'."
Comments
Saw a buzzard pin a baby rabbit to the ground and go in for the kill.
By dawnaur at 16:27 on 07/05/12
ReportWhats up Doc ?
By rt1379 at 22:59 on 04/05/12
ReportRavens are spectacular highly intelligent and opportunistic birds which seem to have become more common in recent years.
A couple of weeks ago I witnessed one being attacked by a Peregrine Falcon almost at eye level over the cliffs at Newdowns Head my theory is that the Raven had been attempting to pilfer the Peregrenes nest.
The Raven having been struck hard enough to dislodge wing feathers took refuge by cowering on a fence post while the Peregrene buzzed it two or three times like an angry wasp it was a new one on me but spectacular to watch from about 50 yards away.
Eventually the Raven sensing the coast was clear disappeared rapidly inland.
By poldice at 17:23 on 04/05/12
ReportFly rabbit, fly rabbit, fly, fly, fly.
By sandyshaw at 13:30 on 04/05/12
Report