Quest Still Stalking the Cape
View Larger Map
(Zoom in or out on the map by clicking the small “+†& “-†signs. Move it around by clicking your mouse button and dragging the map in the desired direction. Click the falcon icons for more information about each location.)
Quest continues to stay at Cape Cod. The locations for the past several days show that she’s spending her time flying up and down in the vicinity of State Rt 6, no doubt taking advantage of all of the prey available to her.
Meanwhile, the sharp-eyed birders at the Cape continue to report Quest sightings. Here’s a recent one, posted on the Massbirds message list from Alex Krofta.
On Thursday 9/6 at about 5PM we saw a peregrine falcon cruising along the beach (harbor side) near Corn Hill Landing Road in Truro. Since we were standing at the top of the dunes, the bird was quite close to us [and] appeared to have an antenna sticking up from its back. It continued south along the beach and out of sight but returned a few minutes later. ( We assume it was the same bird, but of course can’t be certain.) This time we got a better look at the antenna, and there also seemed to be a lump at the base of it, probably about halfway down the bird’s back. The antenna was maybe 8″-12″ long and looked “striped” with thick dark and light segments. Again, the bird moved south down the beach.
Some of our readers have wondered how Quest fared after the remnants of Tropical Storm Hannah passed over the Cape. We’re happy to report that she was spotted by John Kaar, on the 7th of September. John was able to observe Quest’s ID band and he reported them to the Bird Banding Lab at the US Geological Survey, who forwarded his report to us. Here’s what John told us about his sighting.
Sunday, September 7 was beautiful on the lower Cape, tropical storm Hannah having passed by overnight. I was walking with my wife and friends on Chatham’s South Beach, down near the low tide surf, when I noticed Quest sitting on a pile of wrack up at the high tide level near the dune grass. At a distance I wasn’t sure it was a bird, despite the silhouette, because her front markings blended in so well with the dried seaweed. She watched as I approached and shot pictures, then seemed to lose interest in me and started preening. After shooting several pictures, we walked on down the beach. Quest was still there when we returned 20 minutes later, so I got some more photos, which included good views of the color leg bands. I was a little surprised that Quest stayed in one place while we circled around her (albeit at a distance), but she seemed to be in good shape, so I assumed she was just tired after the previous day’s storm.
Even better, John took a few pictures of Quest with his new digital camera!
John tells us that he bought his camera specifically to get better birding pictures. We think he did a great job!
-Jess
September 13th, 2008 at 5:26 PM
Thanks to Alex for the 9/6 report. What fortunate timing for John to test out his new camera. Great shots. Thanks, John, for following up on your sighting and sharing your photos. Quest seems to have become a local celebrity on the Cape; now even referred to by name. Great to see her in such good condition after the storm.
Barbara
(Los Angeles)
September 13th, 2008 at 7:30 PM
Great pictures and reports. Quest looks great. I really look forward to Saturdays to read about Quest’s latest adventures. Thanks to everyone for their great reports.
Lola
(Davis CA)
September 13th, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Gooo Quest! :-))
Thanks for reports and pics, nothing’s boring about M&K’s offspring.
That’s great the young princess is now a little diva at the Cape. 😉
September 13th, 2008 at 9:56 PM
It looks like there may be remnants of Quest’s lunch behind and to the right. A feather here, a gut there . . . You Go, Girl!
September 13th, 2008 at 11:01 PM
My she’s gorgeous, just like her mama. Great reports and pics. Thank you John. Thank you Jess.
September 13th, 2008 at 11:39 PM
I love the look in that last (SE) photo. Amazing to get all these reports/pictures
September 14th, 2008 at 6:33 AM
She sure does blend in with the dried seaweed. And there are just two little spots of her red harness still showing when she faces us.
Wonderful how we get to not only read about her getting her kicks on Rt. 6, but also see pictures – I do not recall this largess with the first two falcons with transmitters. 🙂
September 14th, 2008 at 2:30 PM
That full crop of hers in the last picture sure says it all! Many thanks to the local birders who sent in reports and pictures. Please keep them coming!
(Anybody else get the impression Quest is a bit of a ham? )
😉
September 14th, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Yes, thank you for the great pics, Quest is so beautiful…she seems to be having a great ole time.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:06 PM
I’m confused..according to the color chart of the bands..Quest is blue..Susan B is green…can anyone straighten me out?
September 14th, 2008 at 3:42 PM
The color on the right band wasn’t resistent and we just can see the silver. Probably Quest didn’t like it.. 🙂 😉
Anyway her ID is on the left band.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:42 PM
ok..thanks
September 14th, 2008 at 4:44 PM
ok..but the left one is green.
September 14th, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Yes, Rosamund! I agree… Quest IS a bit of a ham! 😀 Thank you to Alex and John for keeping us up-to-date on Quest’s adventure on the Cape. And thank you, Jess!
September 14th, 2008 at 7:55 PM
All the females had black over green left bands. The right silver band had blue tape on it for Quest, green for Susan B, untaped for Seneca. Quest must have scratched the blue tape off, showing the silver band.
Quest is a beach bunny! Hope she’s being careful!
September 14th, 2008 at 9:12 PM
Kathy V-all of them have black over green bands on their left legs with a code readable with a scope or binoculars-hers is 96/V. Quest’s feathers are covering the black part in these pics. The silver USFWS band on the right leg was covered with blue tape at banding, but she lost the tape somewhere between Rochester and Cape Cod.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:21 PM
Thanks, Ei! 🙂
Kathy, check also the Banding Day (Archives, May) at
http://rfalconcam.com/imprints/?page_id=490
September 15th, 2008 at 6:14 PM
thank you so much, don’t mean to be a bother. I’m still new to this.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:41 PM
Wonderful report and photos! thank you
September 16th, 2008 at 8:06 AM
Not a bother at all, Kathy V 🙂 Everything I know about these magnificent birds I learned from questions to those who were watching before me!
September 16th, 2008 at 10:47 AM
Ditto! 😀 😉
September 17th, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Is St Auburn Cemetery near Cape Cod? This PF is wearing a jess. (I always smile when I hear about an escapee). http://tinyurl.com/PF-jess
September 17th, 2008 at 4:56 PM
@ Rosamund – Interesting picture… too bad this peregrine got separated from its owner. If the photographer could read it’s band, they could find out who the owner is.
It looks like Mt. Auburn Cemetery is 60-75 miles (100-120km) from Cape Cod, as the peregrine flies 😉
September 17th, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Jess, True. Posted a comment with your suggestion to the photographer. Also sent a note to NAFA. Perhaps someone is looking for him/her.
December 4th, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Quest is doing herself proud. Her Mama and Papa (Mariah and Kaver) would be very proud of their daughter making her home on the Cape.