Dynamic Watch for Dr. Dawn

Dawn's been dealing with a torn ligament in her knee (the left MCL for those who need to know) since March, so she's been a no-show downtown this year. Her physical therapy is coming along though, so we decided to take a trip to the bridge on Sunday.

When we arrived there were already a number of watchers present. Barbara had been there since the morning. She reported occasional flying, but nothing extraordinary. Marcia pointed out one of the juveniles sitting one one of the Pont de Rennes' support beams:
     

The consensus was that this was Grace, but she didn't look quite dark enough. A bit later she turned and gave us an unmistakable look at her red band:


A pair of American Robins (Turdus migratorius) had kept up a steady harrassment while she perched. Linn took it in stride for the most part, ducking and dodging as necessary. It looked like she'd had enough when she got airborne:


She only went a little way as it turned out. Landing on a small diagonal member, she kept watch on the annoying robins:


Her position under the substructure made photographs difficult so I turned my attention elsewhere. This passing Cormorant caught my eye just before it disappeared:


Some flying raised our expectations for action. Here's Ananta skimming over the eastern edge of the gorge wall:
     

She made a dramatic landing in the portrait tree, giving Dawn her first close-up look at one of this year's fledglings:


As soon as she was settled, Ananta began picking at the bark on the branch, peeling it back and wedging her bill beneath the woody sheath:
     

Then in an unexpected move, she climbed up the limb and disappeared into the vegetation on the gorge wall:


She returned before too long, and after a bit more picking at the bark she settled in, allowing for a few posed shots:
     

She gave us plenty of time for photos, then dropped off the branch and into the air:
     

She landed in the river, or so we thought, but when we checked we found it was Linn again, out for a dip in the water:


I walked west on the bridge for a better look. After cooling her talons in the refreshing Genesee, Linn hopped onto the rocks. Her audience of mallards seemed unimpressed with the top-level predator in their midst:


A preparatory crouch preceeded a short flight:
          

She landed on one of the RGE buildings below the bridge. The lull in flying lasted for a while, and Dawn and I considered calling it a day, but we decided to walk out to the observation deck instead.

The best opportunities often arise on a whim, or out of pure circumstance. If you had asked me a few days ago, I'd have said the best flying for the season was over. Usually by this point in July the fledglings are getting scarce, flying furthter afield and spending relatively little time in the gorge. Having missed the terrific close-range wingplay over the Watchers' Weekend, I had resigned myself to nothing more than the odd shot of a falcon at long range. Fortune was about to smile upon us, though. Hardly had we arrived when a fledgling passed low overhead:
     

The fly-by came courtesy of Grace, but the best flying was to come from her sisters. Linn followed, passing so low over that I missed many shots even at minimum zoom:


For the next several minutes she treated us to a close range show unlike any I'd experienced so far this year:
     

     

Dawn proclaimed our good fortune with gleeful shouts as a second juvenile joined Linn for some up close talon tag:
          

Fantastic! It was Ananta, and she made a few close passes of her own:
     

          

Linn ended up flying away to the east, rising high on an updraft until she passed out of sight. Meanwhile, Ananta settled for a perch on the shady tree. Once again, all was quiet.

Ebullient at the amazing flying we'd just witnessed, we headed back toward the bridge. About halfway there, an adult flew into view. It was Kaver, and he came with dinner!


A fledgling flew in, kacking madly:


Another came close behind:


She was too late, though. The one in the lead took the food as Kaver dropped it:
     

The chase was on!
          

Curiously, the pursuing juvenile broke off after a short chase. It turned out that Linn had been the lucky recipient of the prey, with Ananta coming up short. Linn circled over the gorge, and favored us with another close pass, vocalizing madly as she landed in the trees on the gorge wall:
     

Needless to say, we were thrilled. Especially for Dawn, who'd been itching to see the falcons this year, today's action exceeded all expectations. Our 90 minute stay featured everything a falcon fan could hope for-- flying at arm's length, talon tag, close perching and a food exchange to boot! I couldn't have planned it any better had I tried. I can only hope we'll see anything half as good again before the girls really do leave the area.