![\"northern](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/northern-shoveler-4622-ron-dudley.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n1\/2000, f\/5.6, ISO 500, 500 f\/4, 11.4 tc<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I watched the relatively young female falcon strike the duck on the surface of the\u00a0water where it quickly died – this photo was taken just seconds after the strike.\u00a0 But retrieving the Shoveler from the water and flying it to shore would have been difficult so the falcon used an alternate strategy.\u00a0 It flew over the floating duck multiple times (apparently just checking it out) and then simply waited on the shore of the causeway until the breeze and the waves washed\u00a0the Shoveler\u00a0ashore.<\/p>\n Note: I’ve included\u00a0eight photos here and the last one is a little gory so some may prefer to avoid scrolling to the\u00a0final image.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Here\u00a0the falcon is only a few feet from the Shoveler (just out of frame to the right) as it cautiously approaches the duck that has finally washed to shore.\u00a0 The bird was nervous (the causeway road was wet so the traffic was making a lot of noise) but it wasn’t about to give up on its hard-won prize.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2000, f\/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n As soon as the falcon reached the duck it held its wings up, seeming to celebrate its success.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The falcon attempted to enjoy its meal on the spot where it washed to shore but incoming waves continually “rocked the boat” which obviously made the bird uncomfortable so…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n it decided to drag the duck further up the rocky, bumpy shore which turned out to be rather a formidable task.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Watching it struggle to do so made it clear to me that the falcon would have had a very difficult time retrieving the duck from the water’s surface and its decision to wait for the prey to wash ashore was a good one.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Here the falcon has decided that this is far enough.\u00a0 It held its wings up for a few more seconds…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>1\/2500, f\/6.3, ISO 640, 500 f\/4, 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n