Cabin John, MD, Peregrines, 2011

[Paul Hamilton]

I made my first visit to my local peregrines this morning.  Immediate gratification -- one was perched at the edge of the nest box and remained there for over a half hour.  There were some wail calls, so I think a brooding shift change was being negotiated.  It appears, then, that the 2011 season must be upon us.

Paul

[valhalla]

   Wonderful!     I look forward to your updates. 

[Donna]

Me too, thanks Paul! 

[MAK]

Me three!!!  Hmmm...3 little oops!!!   

PS

[Paul Hamilton]

As I made my way through the riprap and drift logs, I heard wail calls overhead.  I emerged from the forest just in time to spot the male returning to a perch near the nest.  We spent about a half hour together as he stood guard duty. 

I wonder how far out I was when he first spotted me.  I'm always amazed by their ability to see us at long distances, even when hidden by trees.

Paul

[MAK]

Good looking bird! Thanks! 

[Donna]

Beautiful Picture and Fantastic Falcon. Thanks.

[dale]

very nice picture, Paul - in all that painted metal.

[valhalla]

   Thanks for your efforts, Paul.

[Paul Hamilton]

In my last two trips I'd failed to see the peregrines.  Perhapssomething had happened to them?  The Potomac has ben at a high flood stage, so I can't get to my favorite watching spot and just getting to the bridge is difficult.

Last Sunday, I waited an hour until I saw a tiny speck perched on a bridge support on the Virginia side.  That was good news, but even better news came an hour later when he flew to the nest box and another peregrine flew out.

That meant that a pair is present and there are eggs being incubated.  What a thrill!  In the second picture below, the peregrine is perched on the bridge support that is beyond and below the one with the nest box.

Paul

[Donna]

Excellent pics and thanks Paul.

[Kris G.]

Glad you saw them!  Thanks for the pics!

[valhalla]

Thanks for your efforts, Paul!  Wow, the Potomac IS high!

[dale]

beautiful bird, and spot to nest in! thanks, Paul!

[Paul Hamilton]

The river level was about 6 feet at Great Falls  -- more than halfway to 10 feet, which is flood stage. 

The last time I visited the peregrines, the river was at 12 feet -- two feet above flood stage.  The trail to the river (probably made by deer) was blocked and I had to do some rock climbing to get there.  The trips in and out each took well over an hour and neither bird was visible that day.  I suspect that one of the peregrines was watching me from a tree, rock crevice, or high in the air. That's falconwatching!

Even when the river is normal, getting around is not easy, because of large rocks, greasy-slick mud, and jungle-like underbrush.  The whining roar of the road traffic overhead is very loud.  My favorite observing spot with its tree blind is still cut off by deep, fast water, so I have to be content with watching from a half mile away from the male's favorite perching spot.  At that distance, quite a few of my photos were badly blurred from atmospheric turbulence.

However, it is a strange and beautiful place.  The gorge itself is lovely and the beams and girders of the bridge are surreal -- much like a Fritz Lang movie set.  Many of the concrete bridge supports are decorated by large cartoons and other graffiti.  It's the same basic idea as the Lascaux Caves -- create art in a place where almost nobody will ever see it. 

Paul