That's not the birdie he was aiming for! Cheeky crow flies off with golfball plucked from the course in its beak

  • Crow was caught taking off near L'ancresse Golf Course in Guernsey by photographer Colin Mucklow
  • The wildlife snapper said he thought the swooping bird must have thought the golf ball was an egg 
  • Crows are known for eating anything they can fit in their beaks and swallow, including lizards and frogs

An unlucky golfer encountered a different type of birdie when a cheeky crow swooped down and pinched his golf ball.

Perfectly timed pictures shot by wildlife photographer Colin Mucklow show the crow making a quick escape with the ball between its beak after mistaking it for an egg. 

Mr Mucklow snapped the bird near L'ancresse Golf Course in Guernsey and after following it for around 40 seconds he managed to capture a sequence of stunning images.

Winging it: The cheeky crow, pictured, flies off with the ball in its beak after taking off near the L’ancresse Golf Course in Guernsey

Winging it: The cheeky crow, pictured, flies off with the ball in its beak after taking off near the L'ancresse Golf Course in Guernsey

Eagle eye: Wildlife photographer Colin Mucklow, 52, followed the bird for 40 seconds to capture the fantastic snaps of it in flight

Eagle eye: Wildlife photographer Colin Mucklow, 52, followed the bird for 40 seconds to capture the fantastic snaps of it in flight

Colin, 52, said: 'I've heard about crows pinching balls in the past but I've never been lucky enough to see it up close.

'I'd say there's a poor golfer scratching his head on the course wondering where his shot has gone.

'When I posted the pictures online I had a few messages asking if the bird could drop the ball back at the 19th hole.

'I was actually out looking for owls to photograph that day on a hill that overlooks the course when I spotted the crow.

Disappointing dinner: Mr Mucklow said the crow must have thought it had snapped up an egg when it swooped on the ball

Disappointing dinner: Mr Mucklow said the crow must have thought it had snapped up an egg when it swooped on the ball

Not fussy: Crows are known for eating anything they can fit in their beaks and swallow, which can include lizards, insects and frogs

Not fussy: Crows are known for eating anything they can fit in their beaks and swallow, which can include lizards, insects and frogs

 'It flew overhead and I knew it has something in its mouth but I wasn't sure what until I saw the pictures.

'It's pretty breath-taking to watch them swoop about but the poor thing must have been disappointed when it realised it wasn't an egg.' 

Crows are known for having a varied appetite and are very competent at finding their own food. They often eat whatever they can fit in their beaks and swallow, from insects to lizards and frogs. 

Jokers: Mr Mucklow said that after posting his  pictures online he had various requests for the bird to drop the ball off at the '19th hole'

Jokers: Mr Mucklow said that after posting his pictures online he had various requests for the bird to drop the ball off at the '19th hole'

Colin, originally from Birmingham, said: 'Guernsey gets a lot of rare and amazing species of bird blown in across the Channel and it's great to get out and about and see them all.

'I'm not a golfer myself but it's a great spot to take pictures and it gave me a good chuckle to see what the birds got up to.'


 

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