Lennoxman says he saw her on January 7!

http://rfalconcam.com/imprinting/?p=946&cpage=1#comment-4313

Paul

We experienced the December snowstorm up in the mountains of western Virginia.  It was a great start to a wonderful Christmas with a surprise ending.

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Paul

A Four Falcon Day!  Have to look through my many pictures.   

This beats a Three Dog Night.
Can't wait to see them!

Paul

I guess this marks the official start of Mystery Falcon Season.  I wonder how many birds we will get this year that are neither Mariah, Beauty, or Archer?

Paul

What an amazing set of photographs and story!  Thanks!

Of course, any magazine containing the words "peregrine", "snowy owl", "pedestrian bridge", "gear junkie", "New York", "adrenalin rush" and "talons" brings to mind my favorite falcons, watchers and city.  (Given the current weather conditions, "outdoor survival" has strong associations, too -- kudos to all you Frosted Falcon Flakes up there.)

Growing up in Connecticut, "Jones Beach" was used as a metaphor for any miserably overcrowded beach that nobody in their right mind would ever considering going to.  Understandably, I had never come remotely close to associating either "peregrine falcon" or "snowy owl" with it, let alone both.  Mind expanding.

Paul

Our favorite flying squirrel is back, and joined us for dinner tonight.  Since I was sitting next to the window, I was actually sitting closer to her than to either Mary or Catherine.  After a few minutes a second flying squirrel joined her, but was very skittish and was gone in a matter of seconds.  He or she was much smaller than Zuzu.  We look forward to many other dinners with Zuzu.

Paul

Reminds me of a summer course I took on geological fieldmethods, out in the Black Hills of South Dakota, a dry, hot, place where hidden springs and seeps are the only source of water.  On the first day, the lead professor told us, "Guys, you won't believe the places you will be drinking from during this month."  He was right.  I learned to be good at finding water.

Paul

Hot news item: after being missing for several months, Zuzu is back.  She is on the feeder now.  We now have a fire in the fireplace and a flying squirrel at the window, which is all we really need.

   Pictures will be forthcoming???   

Done.

Paul

Thanks!
She spent New Year's Eve at the lighthouse and then returned to her job at the power plant on January 2.  Good bird!

Paul

Here is the story of the aircraft involved in the crash:

Delivered to US Navy as an R7V-1, BuNo 131644 on 19 Dec 1953.

To VR-1 at NAS Patuxent, MD Dec 53, coded RP-644 and named "Taurus."

Transferred to Airborne Early Warning Squadron Fifteen (VW-15) at NAS Patuxent River, MD, in 1955.

To Airborne Early Warning Maintenance Squadron Two (AEWMATRON 2) at NAS Barbers Point, TH by 1956, redesignated C-121J in 1962 and to Airborne Early Warning Barrier Squadron, Pacific (AEWBARRONPAC) at NAS Barbers Point by Dec 62.

Transferred to VX-6 at NAS Quonset Point on 1 Sep 64, coded JD-5 and named "Pegasus."

Used on "Operation Deep Freeze annually.

One penguin painted on side nosewheel door for each completed Deep Freeze mission.

Coded JD-7 from at least Mar 66.

Modified with new antenna under tail unit for airborne ice-sounding in late 1967 and flight tested in Dec 1967.

Damaged beyond repair landing at Williams Field, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica at 2010 hours local on 8 Oct 1970.

The aircraft, with 80 on board, was flying from Christchurch, New Zealand, on its first flight of the 1970-71 season. After making six low passes over the field, the C-121J attempted to land in zero visibility, winds gusting to 40 mph in a snowstorm and in 90-degree crosswinds.  The starboard wing was torn off completely and the tail unit broken. There were only slight injuries to five on board.
 
The aircraft was subsequently broken up at McMurdo.

Paul

Looks like Quest may have spent the morning of New Year's Eve on East Charity Shoals.  Did she ring in the New Year on the lighthouse?  The next installment may tell.  The sensor temperature was about 24 C (75 F), a testement to feathers and the avian metabolisim.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=105232220446351695936.000479b65e25f0b7f8498&ll=44.337601,-76.816406&spn=0.99203,2.268677&z=9

Paul

The Homestead is in Hot Springs, Bath County, VA.  It is in the Allegheny Mountains, just a few miles from the West Virginia border.  Tha answer that Mary got was "Valley and Ridge Region," which is the geographic province.

http://www.thehomestead.com/index.cfm

It's at an elevation of over 2,000 feet, so the climate is similar to that of southern New England. 

Paul

PS -- Hot news item: after being missing for several months, Zuzu is back.  She is on the feeder now.  We now have a fire in the fireplace and a flying squirrel at the window, which is all we really need.

Patti,

Tex was wearing bells to make it easier for the falconer to follow her movements.  In addition, he can tell by the sound whether she is flying, standing still, or preening.

Paul

We had a family weekend in the mountains of Virginia with my brother and sister in law the week before Christmas.  My nephew tried to make it but left too late and was turned back by impassible roads.  The rest of us had a wonderful time, beginning with falconry.

http://www.blip.tv/file/3036486?filename=Phamilton-FalconryAtTheHomestead843.mov

The snow did not stop until the following night, producing a beautiful winter world that got us all in the mood for the holidays.  It was great reading A Christmas Carol aloud with whiteout conditions outside our windows.

Paul

Happy Birthday Rich and Ginha!

Paul