Brixham fisherman rescues waterlogged peregrine falcon after rival bird and fulmar attacks off Devon coast

Tristan Northway, a Brixham fisherman, spotted the year-old peregrine falcon stranded and waterlogged on rocks near Berry Head's cliffs and brought it to the Cove Discovery Project in Devon. Duncan Kenny, a licensed peregrine ringer, believes a dominant female attacked the young bird after it moved into her territory, before fulmars also set upon it, spitting defensive oil onto its back.

Peregrines lack oily feathers, meaning once waterlogged they cannot recover unaided — the bird was too exhausted to escape the water on its own.

Devon Peregrines rehabilitators say the falcon has superficial injuries and damaged feathers but is otherwise in good condition.

The team hopes to return the bird to the wild if no complications arise, describing the rescue as a rare privilege.