Radisson - 2009 / Trey & Princess

[bcbird]

Thanks, Alikat, it was great to hear a report for today.  Sounds like a good time even if there wasn't as much bird action to watch.

[BirdLover]

Hey Allikat, nice post.  But I gotta add, that ya made me spit 3 times.
I'm beginning to believe that you were waiting and watching till I had just taken a gulp of water, and on purpose, ya said something ya knew would get me. You are such a rascal.

Hee hee, wish I had been there to see that!   

[allikat]

Hey Allikat, nice post.  But I gotta add, that ya made me spit 3 times.
I'm beginning to believe that you were waiting and watching till I had just taken a gulp of water, and on purpose, ya said something ya knew would get me. You are such a rascal.

That's right.....It was THREE times!!!!  Oh, am I good or what 
The devil made me do it...

[debc52]

We did see a couple of pelicans (maybe) gliding way overhead, several airborne plastic bags or balloons and lots of seagulls. When you haven't seen any action in awhile it is amazing what makes you grab the binocs!

Great bunch of people to hang out with though. And this time I remembered sunscreen so a lovely time was had by all.

[carly]

Thanks for the report allikat!  I've been checking all day to hear if anyone had seen them and to make sure they were all accounted for.

[bccs]

Hey Allikat, nice post.  But I gotta add, that ya made me spit 3 times.
I'm beginning to believe that you were waiting and watching till I had just taken a gulp of water, and on purpose, ya said something ya knew would get me. You are such a rascal.

[allikat]

Hi all,

Well, not much was happening downtown today folks.  I met Barb (BCCS), Debc52, and Saoirse this morning behind the St. Regis Hotel and we had a parking lot party, with lawn chairs and everything...I even made Bccs spit, TWICE!!!!!
Later on, Willmax came along, Ellie and her husband and Gliderpeople.  Too bad there wasn't much happening.
We couldn't see/spot any of the falcons were awhile.  After oh I don't know, 2hours, we finally saw the kids fly around for a couple of seconds, spotted Princess on her favorite perch, The J on the Richardson building and Trey was tucked in on top of the letter o, on the Radisson sign facing East.  We suspected that the kids were someone in the middle until I spotted one of the kids on the Rogers building, I think it was Vesper, looked like she was chowin' down on somethin'. 
It was a beautiful day to be out and about.

[des]

Just came back from a drive around Radisson area.  Didn't spot any of the falcons or any watchers.  I certainly could have missed them.  I'm more used to the early morning activity of last week.  I'll go down later - perhaps this evening and take a better look around.

[Nannie]

Is there a scheduled Fledge Watch on today, or just interested people downtown?  I'm thinking no Watch because there are no posts from people other than that someone was spotted with binoculars this morning.  Maybe the Watch is over?  It's all been so great and thanks to everyone who has posted updates on what the falcons are doing.  Even if you can't get downtown you feel part of it all by reading all the posts.  As the mother-of-the-bride said after the wedding "What do I do to fill my time now??"

[The Peregrine Chick]

She said they are pretty big and her description reminder me of the Cooper's I saw a few times this spring. I referred her to Dennis's pictures and the "all about birds" website.   

There are two Coopers Hawks families living on campus this year, and one Broad-winged Hawk family.  They are the most commonly hawk species that are misidentified as peregrines on a regular basis - they are both streamlined woodland hawks and are peregrine sized. 

Merlins are 1/2 the size of peregrines on a good day but they do have the malar stripe and all the other common behaviours.  They can range in appearance from looking like an adult peregrine to a juvenile to a mini-gyrfalcon they are so pale in colour.  And yes, there are some of those too where the trees are large enough and have had crows there before to provide nests for them ...

[ballywing]

Drove by the 'fledgewatch'  parking lot on the way to work - saw one lone watcher, green shirt and hat - binocs to the sky - not sure who it was, hopefully somebody joins in to keep her company! 

[Pchemist]

I agree 100% birdcamfan - but I imagine for folks who only know there are "some falcons" around,  it's pretty tricky.

to borrow from kittenface... 

[birdcamfan]

Peregrines are also substantially larger than Merlins. Average top weight of an adult female Peregrine is about 1600 g. For an adult Merlin, top adult weight is about 240 g. Kestrels are also pretty small, top weight about 165 g. There are great descriptions at the "all about birds" site as it shows wing length, call, and other distinguishing features.  (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/search). TPC has also posted the names of some recommended birding books somewhere in the zillion pages of this site but I can't recall where. That and the pictures Dennis puts up are very helpful.

[Pchemist]

that and the banding and color - though I suppose at first glance you could mistake a merlin for a juvie peregrine.

then there is the size, which can be hard to judge (as we all know!) without something to compare to.

[willmax11]

I Googled Merlins and the first page was this Canadian site.
When sitting I think the black malar cheek patch on the Peregrine
would be the most diff.


http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/raptors/Merlin.html