Hen Harrier v Short-eared Owl

A couple of weeks back the male Hen Harrier set off at speed after a Short-eared Owl hunting the fields; a battle then ensued with the owl climbing higher to avoid the harrier and at first it seemed like it was a just an interspecific skirmish but on looking at my images, all heavily cropped, it was clear that the owl had a vole which the harrier was attempting to steal - this behaviour has now been repeated a few times but it is not something I had knowingly seen before

male Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl in aerial tussle

when being chased or mobbed the owls usually head upwards - the vole is visible in its right foot

Hen Harriers can seemingly fly upside down

and vertically upwards

the owl escaped with its catch this time

almost grabbed it