An Audience of One

More often than not, watching the Kodak Peregrines is a communal activity; their enduring popularity almost guarantees it. Having fellow birders around provides companionship, an opportunity for conversation during lulls in the activity, and extra sets of eyes when tracking multiple falcons. Sometimes, though, solitude has rewards of its own; freedom of movement and the ability to devote all of ones senses to the task at hand amongst them. Thus, when I found myself alone at the east end of the Pont de Rennes bridge shortly after 7:30 this morning, I viewed it as an unusual fluke of good fortune, unlooked for though it was. The morning's serendipity began with this Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) preening and sunning itself in a tree:
     

It was halfway down the bridge, and I'd likely have overlooked it had I not been scanning the snags beneath the bridge for signs of the juvenile falcons. As it happened, I spotted a fledgling buzzing over the east side of the gorge and the observation deck, my original destination. When it passed the bridge, I shot a few pictures:
          

Aura didn't let fascination with her talon hinder her flying as she zoomed back toward the falls. Up the path I jogged in pursuit, binoculars bouncing as I went. I caught a few shots of her along the way, but the backlighting from the sun ruined them. I found the light much improved upon the deck with the sun at my back:


She duelled with the gulls above the churning water that pitched over the turgid High Falls, giving spirited chase to one unfortunate juvenile:
          

After the pursuit, she rested for a time on the low building below the bridge:


Nature abhors a vaccuum, and falcon flying seems to be no exception. The raptor flight void didn't last long, and betimes I found myself tracking another juvenile that turned out to be Sabrina:
     

She too passed near the observation deck, casting her predator's eye upon me, and giving me a good look at her talons and plumage, which showed evidence of a recent meal:
          

Aura joined Sabrina and the two juveniles took turns chasing each other:


Their play featured some incredible aerobatics, including this inverted Immelmann-esque loop:
     

They made ample use of the nearby airspace for their playground:
     

     

The golden-crowned Aura took a break, leaving the sky to her smaller sibling:
          

After chasing a pigeon near the falls, Sabrina made a most unusual landing on the chain-link fence adjacent to the cataract, doing a passable impression of a woodpecker clinging to a tree:
     

She left her odd perch soon enough, preferring to cavort in the misty air:
     

Aura too, seemed to delight in the drizzly sky, returning to her preoccupation with her talons:
          

Then the two of them were back at it, renewing their chases:


The hour I'd allotted myself for watching drew to a close, and I left the pair to their pursuits through the gorge. Walking back down the path, I found the Kodak tower framed by the trees and stopped for a quick portrait:


Cool air, fresh breezes, bright sun and fantastic flying-- an excellent outing, and a wonderful way to spend some quality time on my own. Birding with a group is unquestionably fun and rewarding, but a solo session holds undeniable charm as well.