AK Wildlife Cruises, Falmouth Cornwall falcon v woodpecker

AK Wildlife Cruises based in Falmouth are better known for their amazing pictures of whales, dolphins and porpoises off the south Cornwall Coast.

The Peregrine Falcon with the unfortunate woodpecker in its claws (Image: Emily Forster; Instagram @wildforsterphoto)

But wildlife photographer Emily Forster (Instagram @wildforsterphoto) caught what was potentially a world first on a three hour cruise this week.

She spotted a juvenile peregrine desperately chasing a small bird dipping up and down across the waves two miles out to sea.

The chase lasted for 15 miuntes before the unfortunate woodpecker was caught.

Posting on Facebook, Emily said: "It was a really intense chase, as one wrong move would’ve ended in a soggy, salty disaster for either predator or prey.

"Even though they maybe aren’t the best photos, they enabled me to identify the bird that was flying for its life and what I found was truly shocking.

The deadly chase (Image: Emily Forster; Instagram @wildforsterphoto)

"After checking my eyes weren’t deceiving me with my fellow birders, they confirmed my thoughts that the poor victim of this juvenile peregrine was in fact a great spotted woodpecker!

"I had never seen a peregrine falcon go for a woodpecker before, let alone two miles out at sea!"

The deadly chase out in the water (Image: Emily Forster)

Unfortunately for this woodpecker, the young peregrine was eventually victorious in securing its meal and flew off towards the cliffs of the Lizard to enjoy its catch.

READ NEXT:

Police called after 'vigilantes' confront man on Prince of Wales Pier

It is thought the juvenile female Peregrine had initially flushed the woodpecker out from some of the coastal marginal scrub or woodland then with the strong SW offshore wind the woodpecker was blown, in its attempt to escape the peregrines clutches offshore where it was caught.