An Evening With Sabrina and Rhea Mae

Dawn's been wanting to see the fledglings in action for a few days now, but circumstances have repeatedly conspired against her getting downtown. Finally yesterday she was able to accompany me, so we had an early dinner and headed for the pedestrian bridge. We found many watchers there including Diana R, Jeanne, Dana and Lou, Greg S, Carrie and Shaky, Joyce, Kathy O, Lisa McKeown, Robin and Brian from New Jersey and Carol P.

The action began when one of the adults (I think it was Kaver) arrived with food. Aura and Sabrina headed east to meet him and the transfer occurred at a significant distance. It was so far away in fact, that we couldn't tell which eyas got the food, but both began grappling for it, plummeting through the sky as they struggled:
     

     

The fledglings fell behind the buildings of the High Falls Brewing Company, out of the sight of the astonished watchers. The next sight we had was of the victorious Sabrina, who flew nearby with her prize and landed on one of the brewery buildings:
     

Aura passed to the south of the bridge, her talons empty:


We've noticed that the Kestrels that share the gorge with the Peregrines are especially aggressive this year. One of them pursued Sabrina and made repeated attempts to steal her dinner. She was forced to guard against the thief the entire time she was eating:


Aura nursed her pride by chasing Rhea Mae up and down the length of the gorge. Much of the pursuit took place near the falls where the thick spray and falling light made good pictures hard to get. When Aura gave up the hunt, Rhea Mae continued flying, grasping at leaves as she skimmed the treetops. The highlight of the evening came when she flew up the side of the gorge and passed over the bridge at close range, greenery clutched in a talon:
     

     

          

Another, even closer flyover by Sabrina followed, and so awestruck was I by the sight that I didn't even try to take a picture. We ended the evening with this Great Blue Heron which flew beneath the bridge before touching down in the river to the north:
     

Amazing flying and action packed into just a little over an hour! This year's fledglings seem to provide endless excitement. One needs simply to show up, and look up, to enjoy the spectacle.