Peregrine 2012 Season - Part 4 17 June 2012
PeterD-2009
Registered Users Posts: 618 Major grins
The conditions yesterday were almost ideal. I stayed about 1 hour.
The chick that I thought was close to fledging in fact took its first flight on the 13th. Another chick took its first flight on the 16th but was still not confident enough to fly much and spent the day hunkered down at the cliff top,
beneath the vegetation. The third chick had not attempted to fly yet and remained in the nest site.
When I arrived, the adult female was feeding the chick on the nest site.
#1
It was still hungry after the adult left.
#2
About half an hour later, the adult flew over the crest of the cliff face clutching another pigeon.
#3
Immediately, the fully fledged chick flew up to meet it in the hope that it was its turn to be fed, calling out loudly to make itself be noticed.
#4
For the next 5 minutes or so, the two birds twisted and turned in flight. Very good practise for the young bird.
#5
(the juvenile)
#6
(the adult flying back to the top of the cliff face)
#7
(Another try for the pigeon)
Finally, the adult had decided the game was over and flew straight back to the chick at the nest site, leaving the juvenile to pass overhead.
#8
To give you some idea of the agility and speed of these birds, I include a short video I took.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enUX5I8tD-M&feature=autoplay&list=ULenUX5I8tD-M&playnext=5
The chick that I thought was close to fledging in fact took its first flight on the 13th. Another chick took its first flight on the 16th but was still not confident enough to fly much and spent the day hunkered down at the cliff top,
beneath the vegetation. The third chick had not attempted to fly yet and remained in the nest site.
When I arrived, the adult female was feeding the chick on the nest site.
#1
It was still hungry after the adult left.
#2
About half an hour later, the adult flew over the crest of the cliff face clutching another pigeon.
#3
Immediately, the fully fledged chick flew up to meet it in the hope that it was its turn to be fed, calling out loudly to make itself be noticed.
#4
For the next 5 minutes or so, the two birds twisted and turned in flight. Very good practise for the young bird.
#5
(the juvenile)
#6
(the adult flying back to the top of the cliff face)
#7
(Another try for the pigeon)
Finally, the adult had decided the game was over and flew straight back to the chick at the nest site, leaving the juvenile to pass overhead.
#8
To give you some idea of the agility and speed of these birds, I include a short video I took.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enUX5I8tD-M&feature=autoplay&list=ULenUX5I8tD-M&playnext=5
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Comments
Thomas Fuller.
SmugMug account.
Website.
Peter
http://www.imageinuk.com
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
Thank you Harry. I love following these birds at this time of the year. They are so graceful and agile in their movements.
Peter
http://www.imageinuk.com