New Forest residents were left in awe by a majestic flyover from the fastest animal in the world.

Daily Echo Camera Club member Jordan Callaghan managed to snap a picture of a peregrine falcon, which can reach top speeds of more than 200 miles per hour when diving.

The bird of prey is the UK’s biggest falcon and is the fastest member of the animal kingdom based on top speed.

Jordan told the Daily Echo: “I have seen peregrine falcons before but never managed any in-flight shots.”

He called the picture he got of the peregrine falcon in the New Forest the “best” photo of the bird he has ever managed, saying it flew “very fast” and was hard to photograph.

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The ferocious falcon used to only be found in the north of the UK, but Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust note that the bird has spread south over the last couple of decades.

Peregrine falcons can be told apart by their blue-grey colour and their white throat and cheeks – not to mention the strong, black moustache on their face.

Jordan says this is the first time he has managed to capture the peregrine falcon in flight.Jordan says this is the first time he has managed to capture the peregrine falcon in flight. (Image: Jordan Callaghan) Their triangular-shaped wings are pointy in flight, and Camera Club members called Jordan’s photo “beautiful” as he snapped the majestic bird soaring above Lepe and the Beaulieu River.

Peregrine falcons typically nest on sea cliffs and rocky areas, though they have also used tall buildings as an alternative home.

Winchester Cathedral has housed these falcons, which can typically live to be more than 10 years old and mate for life.

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An adult will eat around 70 grams of food per day, the equivalent of two blackbirds, and typically prey on birds as big as pigeons.

It is not unusual for peregrines to eat ducks, rabbits or bats, and they do not have any predators themselves.

They can grow to be 23 inches long, and according to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust the wingspan of a peregrine falcon can reach 1.2 metres.

Nature photographer Jordan previously managed to capture a white-tailed eagle soaring above the New Forest too and regularly posts pictures of birds in flight to the Daily Echo Camera Club Facebook group.