Entertainment at Eight

Hoping to see the falcons before the weather got too oppressive, I stopped by the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge at 8:00 this morning. Joyce was the only other watcher there, a bit of a surprise given the activity to which we've been treated by this year's fledglings. Of course, when I arrived, there was almost no activity from the falcons. Joyce pointed out one juvnenile, probably Rhea Mae, busy with breakfast on a roof of the BeeBee Station:


Finding no more falcons, I sought other sights, and found a few; The High Falls, engorged from yesterday's diluvian rains...


A Great Blue Heron perched on a building below the bridge...


Fawns stretching after a night's rest:


Urgent kacking was our first indication of other peregrines in the area. A fledgling flew northward into the blue morning sky to meet Kaver for a well-executed food transfer. Right on its tail came another, challenging the first for the meal. They both landed on some of the BeeBee Station's pipework:


Size difference soon made it clear that Sabrina held the food, mantling over her prize against the other bird, which we decided was Aura based on the light coloration of her head. After a few seconds of their uneasy detente, Sabrina decided to seek a more isolated mess, and she carried her food to another part of the building:


Undeterred, Aura jumped aloft and followed her sister:
          

Sabrina would brook no interference, though. She dropped below the edge of the roof and kept on eating despite Aura's intrusion.

Rhea Mae flew from her rooftop rest to the railing of the brewery building at the east end of the bridge. Joyce and I headed that way for a few pictures:


I spotted another heron on a thick wire and took a moment to photograph it's unusual pose:


Then it was back to Rhea Mae:
     

She gave us ample opportunities and seemed in no hurry to vacate her spot. I stayed until the hour was nearly up, then left Joyce on the east side to continue watching while I headed into the office. Joyce's shout alerted me to new activity, as Rhea Mae jumped down into the gorge for some flying. She circled the building below the bridge and made sport of harrying the herons:
          

Leave it to the falcons to spring into action when I have no time to watch! After a few more strafing runs, she flew directly toward me and landed on one of the bridge's supports. Lucky me. I leaned over the railing for a few photos:
     

     

With the minutes ticking away, I left her beneath the span and continued toward my car, grabbing a few quick shots of Sabrina as I went:


Near the west end of the bridge I was startled by loud kacking as Aura made a spectacular flight right next to me:
          

It was a great way end to an hour of watching, and I left before the Peregrines could throw any more temptaions my way. Their flights continue to impress and entertain, and I'm looking forward to witnessing more of them.