What a great Fledge Watch today! Watchers included Shaky, Barb, Lynda (and her husband), Lisa McK, Larry O, Susan C and me. I passed Jim P on my way out. He had taken an early lunch.

I made my way out to the east end of the pedestrian bridge and was informed that 3 juvies were sitting on the shady tree along the east side of the gorge wall. When the breeze shifted the branches, you could easily see all three of them.

It wasn’t long before we spotted a juvie flying through the gorge. She made many low passes right over us, as if she was checking us out. It was Linn, with her bright red band.

After flying around for a little while, Linn landed (we thought) somewhere on the High Falls Brewery Buildings.

We went back to chatting amongst ourselves, when I spotted what I thought was a Falcon flying low over the island below the bridge. Well, it wasn’t a Falcon, it was a duck! I had already called attention to this duck and a few of us watched in amazement as the
duck flew right up to the shady tree, like it was going to land there.

Well, imagine its’ surprise when it finally noticed that this tree was already occupied. Not by one, not by two, but three young Peregrine Falcons!!! Ananta, Sacajawea and Grace!

The duck immediately put on the brakes, extended its’ wings and dropped like a rock towards the river below. That wasn’t to be the end of this duck’s adventure.

One of the juvies sitting in the tree decided it would be great fun to chase this almost dinner guest. The juvie was hot on the tail of this hapless duck as it dove for the water below. The duck dove head first under the water and the juvie pulled out of her dive at the last moment skimming the surface.

The duck swam towards the bridge as fast as its’ big yellow feet would paddle and the juvie returned to the shady tree to rejoin her sisters.

I did get one picture of the juvie flying back up into the tree and I’m pretty sure it may have been Ananta.

This definitely gets added to my top ten most exciting Falcon Watch moments.

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