So the day started with Dennis giving me a call to let me know that there was a peregrine at The Diner. We chatted, I mentionned I was thinking of taking my spotting scope to try and read band numbers (The Dinner is high but has nice clear angles for reading bands) even though the light was very flat - makes it hard to photograph and to use scopes for detailled work. I got ready and was about to head out the door when Dennis called again to say that in fact both birds were there and good luck since he was off to photograph Great Horned Owls.
I arrived at The Diner about 10 minutes later and both birds were still there (not a foregone conclusion, they do have wings and know how to use them) so I parked and thought about the best location for viewing since it was quite cold and the south breeze was too brisk to be at all warm. Suddenly both birds took off from the The Diner and headed off to The Bleachers and started some wonderful courtship flights and I just parked my butt on the hood of my car and watched them. After a minute or two I decided to call Dennis to see what he was up to since this is exactly the kind of thing he photographs well - even though the light conditions sucked. Dennis abandonned his owls and got back to The Diner about 4 minutes after the most picture perfect ... umm, snuggle ... took place. I felt terrible but had to tell him if only because chances are we would get another chance to photograph it if we waited. So the Ivy and his lady took up positions on opposite corners of The Diner and Dennis and I settled in to wait. I was rewarded about 10 minutes later when I got a look at her feet and was able to confirm the ringband and Dennis was rewarded another 10-15 minutes later when more snuggling occurred. Now young Ivy is a cute little bird - he has features of his Dad (Trey) and features of his Mom (Princess). He has a fuller darker cap than he used to but I couldn't see if he still has some of the lighter coloured features (from Princess) on his crown. He has darker banding on his breast and belly - definitely from Princess. Nice white chest though - again Trey's, but I couldn't really see if any of Princess' speckles are still there. I hope not, but I'm biased.
Anyway, back to the story ... Ivy is a clever little darling too, he had food stashed away and he went to his pantry on The Diner and brought back a treat for the female. It was amazing to see them side by side because she is a large female and he looks to be on the smaller side for a male - in other words, large size difference! Lots of talking and then they both retired to their corners - she with her lunch, him with a great deal of satisfaction. Another bout of copulation then they both took off to The Bed & Breakfast and we were just able to see there with our binoculars and spotting scope. Were glad about that since The B&B is where the nestbox is and where the pair of them spent most of last summer.
Dennis and I decided to follow them over there but shortly after we arrived they headed back to The Diner again. We naturally followed, and glad we were that we did. They were both back there and we watched another bout of gift-giving, some more copulation, then they moved over to The Bleachers again. The landed on The Bleachers and just as Dennis & I were hopping into our vehicle to follow, I heard & saw another peregrine zip by in the opposite direction. Just as we were on our way a merlin bombed through and though I was sure I had heard a peregrine I wondered if maybe the wind had screwed up the sound and I'd been wrong. So we arrived at The Bleachers and both Ivy and his lady were perched out of the wind but a bit closer to the ground and I was able to confirm his band number right before he bolted back toward The Diner and that is when I spotted the third peregrine. The female then bolted from The Bleachers to join the melee and by size we realized that the new bird was a female and the battle was on! The two females dove and hit one another and began flying and fighting their way back toward The Bleachers with Ivy pitching in. Gave us an opportunity to get a great look at them as they came back past us again. We hoped that they would come around The Bleachers again, but no such luck. It got quiet, then the female returned and was none too pleased with our presence on the ground and she was making some quiet, but seriously defensive flights about 40-60 feet over our heads. Ivy arrived after a few more minutes and rocketed through not much higher before they both returned to The Diner and then both headed off in the direction of The B&B. And that's when we lost them.
