Lapwings evading Peregrine

Pagham Harbour  - I watched a peregrine flying at a flock of around thirty lapwings. The falcon made a couple of cursory swoops at the flock and then managed to separate a single bird. I fully expected the hawk to pursue this vulnerable individual, but it allowed it to regain the safety of numbers. The hawk then began rapid wing beats and was clearly attempting to rapidly gain height. As it is normal for peregrines to swoop down upon their prey, this seemed to be a sensible action, however, what surprised me was the fact that the flock of lapwings merely flew higher (with fewer wing beats, it has to be said) and kept the hawk at the same altitude. This tactic proved to be successful and the peregrine flew into the distance.