Peregrine Falcon: Woburn male

October 2, 2017 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts

_W7I8655-001A Monday morning flyby visit with clear skies, bright sun, winds from NW at 5MPH, and temp at 63F.  The adult male was perched on the nest ledge and preening with its bill.  Preening keeps the feathers neat, preserving their streamlining and insulating effects as well as their color pattern.  Preening may help to remove any possible external parasites.

Peregrine Falcon: Woburn chase scene!

September 28, 2017 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

_W7I7913-001After arrival in the general quarry area, it took a while to locate the male.  He was well hidden behind a small clump of weeds growing out of the rocks.  A number of local pigeons were active flying around the quarry.  It was partly sunny, with winds from the north at 15MPH and the temp was 73F.  Without much warning, the male launched into flight in a springboard takeoff in pursuit of the pigeons.

 

 

_W7I8040-001He made a half-hearted chase and then looped back around to land at the nest ledge!  He remained vigilant in watching the continuing pigeon flight activity!

Peregrine Falcon: Woburn adult male

August 28, 2017 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

_W7I4790-001Monday morning visit to quarry with sighting of perched adult male nestled on a ledge, in the shade, with no activity.  As always, many pigeons in flight nearby, but no other birds or hawks that might  have prompted falcon into flight.  Mostly sunny conditions with little wind and temps in low 60’s.

Peregrine Falcon: Woburn adult male

August 7, 2017 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

_W7I3824-001During a short brief visit to the Woburn Peregrines this morning, discovered the male well hidden behind one of the rocky outcroppings. On some visits, it takes some added time to find one of the adults as they tend to blend in so well with little movement!  Here he was just barely visible!

Peregrine Falcon: Woburn female

August 3, 2017 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts

_W7I3796-001A nice mid-afternoon visit to the Woburn Peregrines with nice looks at the female in the midst of a right leg stretch!  The sun had ducked behind the west quarry wall but the overall lighting was till fairly good.  she was perched on one of her favorite tree branch perch locations with no other activity going on in the general area.  She appears to have a full crop after a likely recent meal.

Peregrine Falcon: Woburn female perched

June 12, 2017 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn

_W7I0073-001The heat wave continues and the local peregrines can be seen panting and holding their wings out and up a bit to stay cool.  The female was the only one seen today and she was perched in the late day shadows atop a utility pole near the circle.

Peregrine Falcons: Woburn, finally on eggs!

April 12, 2017 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn

_W7I4502-001The Woburn Peregrines have finally laid their 2017 clutch of eggs!  As with all Peregrine Falcons nest locations, clutch sizes vary from one to five. Three or four seems to be the norm. Eggs are laid at intervals of two to three days. Incubation usually does not start in earnest until the clutch is almost complete. The female typically does most of the incubating, and during this period is fed by the male. The incubation period is approximately 29 – 33 days. The young then spend up to six weeks in and around the nest ledge until they are old enough to make their first flight, or “fledge.”

Here the female is finally hunkered down in incubation posture with the male nearby watching over the nearby area!

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Peregrine Falcons: Woburn

April 10, 2017 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn

_W7I4027-001A bright sunny Monday morning with blue skies and spring in the air with temp almost at 60F and gentle SW winds at 10MPH.  Only the male was seen this morning perched on a rocky outcropping near the nest ledge but the female was not around.  It seems like she has yet to go into incubation mode but no doubt we are very close!

Peregrine Falcons: Woburn food exchange

April 7, 2017 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn

_W7I1501-001Courtship behavior continues between these two adult peregrines with food exchanges and other activities. The male and female frequently visit the nest at the same time, leaning toward each other in a bowing fashion. They may also be seen to exhibit other bonding behaviors. The birds continue to clean up around the nest ledge in preparation for egg laying. Eggs should appear sometime in next few days if not already. The falcons typically lay between 3 or 4 eggs, spaced 1-3 days apart. They don’t start incubating until they’ve laid their next to last egg. Both adults take turns incubating the eggs, which hatch in about 29-33 days after incubating starts in earnest. During incubation, prey is brought into the nest box by the foraging adult for the pair to share. The pair will exchange incubation duties about every 30 minutes to an hour. During incubation eggs are repositioned and rolled, this often occurs after an incubating exchange.

Peregrine Falcon: Woburn female perched

April 5, 2017 in Peregrine Falcon Woburn

_W7I1382-001Made a late afternoon visit in search of Peregrines in Woburn under dark overcast skies, wind E at 7MPH, and temp in low 40’s.  the adult female was quietly perched on a favorite utility pole near the Vinkari Safari Indoor Playground.  She reminded quietly perched , very alert, but with no distractions.