Peregrine: Woburn adult male

March 31, 2016 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn

CF2C4650-001Made an early morning pass by the Woburn peregrines to find the unbanded adult male perched on a favorite nearby overhang tree branch basking in the morning sun!  His dictating membrane is jet barely visible.

Lawrence Peregrines: Incubation time!

March 30, 2016 in Near the Clock Tower

CF2C4594-001The pair of Lawrence Peregrines now have 4 eggs that have been laid in the nest box. The process of incubating the eggs has begun and is a constant effort shard by both female and male.  Here is a late afternoon look at the unbanded female preparing to launch into flight from the nestbox in flight as the male takes his turn at incubating the eggs!

Lawrence Peregrine: male on watch!

March 23, 2016 in On the Clock Tower

CF2C4269-001The Lawrence Peregrines now have a single egg that has been laid.  The first egg was laid late Monday night.  It is expected that 3 more eggs will be laid in the next handful of days!  The male is on watch on a ledge very next the nestbox!

Bald Eagle on nest: Essex County

March 22, 2016 in Bald Eagle

CF2C4240-001The female Bald Eagle continues in incubation mode with hatch date very close.  As the eggs hatch the activity around the nest will increase quiet a bit as the newly hatched eaglets will be fed with increasing regularity!

Great Blue Herons: return to Carter Fields!

March 22, 2016 in Nearby Waterbirds

CF2C4203-001The Great Blue Heron, is a slender and elegant water bird with a lavender hue and a long pointed beak, and makes its nest in the tops of dead trees in wetlands.

Recently, there have between 40 and 50 active great blue heron nests in a rookery at Carter Fields, an 85-acre parcel of land with a huge beaver pond in North Andover at the Boxford line.  This year, it looks like we’ll have maybe active 10 nests. The land is owned by the Essex County Greenbelt Association, a nonprofit organization that owns thousands of acres in Essex County for the purpose of preserving natural habitats, the county’s agricultural heritage and scenic landscapes.

Herons typically do not migrate far. Adults will return to their previous nests, fix them up and reuse them to raise a new brood. The females lay between three and seven eggs in late March or early April, and the chicks hatch by May.

Bald Eagle: adult near nest, Essex County!

March 22, 2016 in Bald Eagle

CF2C4095-001The waiting continues to see if a pair of Bald Eagles with a newly constructed nest, proceed to lay eggs!  They are seen regularly on and around the nest, but no sign yet that eggs have been laid…..sometimes, waiting is the hardest part!

Bald Eagle: Merrimack River, Lawrence

March 22, 2016 in Bald Eagle

CF2C4063-001While parked and watching the peregrines at the Clock Tower, a blur started to pass by in the distance.  The blur became more interesting as it was larger and flying with a slow distinct wing beat.  Upon a closer look, a nice unexpected surprise to see a subadult Bald Eagle heading up the Merrimack River in westerly direction.  Probably a third year Eagle based on field marks!

Peregrine: Woburn, male

March 22, 2016 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn

CF2C3981-001Made an early morning pass to observe the peregrines in Woburn under beautiful morning light with blues skies and bright sunshine.  Here is the unbanded male cleaning its bill after a morning snack!

A few more photos from the morning: http://www.pbase.com/birdshots/image/162831226

Lawrence Peregrine: male on clock tower!

March 16, 2016 in On the Clock Tower

CF2C3796-001Checked on the Lawrence Peregrines on the way to work and found the male perched on one of the upper ledges above the clock face!

Peregrine: Woburn juvenile

March 16, 2016 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn

CF2C3767-001Made a run by the Woburn falcons this morning under dark overcast skies and light rain.  Both peregrines were seen with the adult having made a fresh kill for breakfast.  Nice looks at the juvenile with yet another clear read on her 32/BC leg bands!