Under bright sun and clear skies, made a short visit to observe the Peregrines in Woburn. Only the male was hanging around on one of the rocky outcroppings to the west of the nest ledge.  He was very busy preening and scratching while, lifting both legs and making a ball/fist with talons, at different times.  The female was in sight during course of visit.

Among Peregrine Falcons, courtship and nesting activities are now in full swing.  Pair bonds are growing close and copulation seems to be right on time based on historical schedules.  Here, the male peregrine is perched near the nest ledge, basking in the sun, but will engage in territorial defense against any and all intruders!

Made a very late pass by the Woburn Peregrines at the end of President’s Day weekend.  It was a quiet Monday on a holiday long weekend.  The late day setting sun cast a golden glow without a cloud in the sky.  The sun was just setting while the female peregrine was perched on the largest utility pole with the double crossbars.  She has thicker lateral barring on her underparts compared to the male and his finer barring pattern. The female is more heavily spotted on the upper breast and the pattern becomes heavily barred on the abdomen, flanks, thighs, and under the tail. feathers.

The male falcon was seen perched and enjoying the bright morning sun.  It spent time stretching both feet and talons as well as preening feathers on both wings.

Method of preening flight and body feathers for Peregrines as in most birds. Toes and talons nibbled with bill, particularly after feeding.  Peregrines typically rouse (shake) after preening; also rouse during flight, particularly after leaving perch (unless to initiate a pursuit). After rousing or preening, may bend head down and to side to rub eye against wing wrist.

Scratching is form of preening for areas not reached with bill; raises one leg in front of wing and bends head down to side; talons (especially middle toe) used to scratch head and bill, effective in dislodging scraps of meat.

Adults commonly stretch single leg or wing laterally; stand on one leg and stretch opposite leg back to side, simultaneously stretching wing from same side across extended leg.

The male peregrine was found perched on a snow-backed ledge near the nest area this morning.  It remained inlace for over a half hour with little movement and no other activity nearby!

The female continues to be seen with regularity around the nest ledge in Woburn.  She frequently perches at the next ledge in a very content way.  A number of recent sightings have been of either one, but not both together.  This morning was cold with overcast skies and light winds.

A morning visit to the quarry for a look at the falcons.  The male was seen perched just to the west of the nest ledge under overcast skies. Very little action nearby and the peregrine remained on perch for quite a while with very little movement but with eyes open the entire time.

Wonderful to see the female falcon back around the nest ledge again.  She has distinctive spotting on her belly as opposed to the lateral bands of the likely older male falcon.  In this image the female seems to have encountered some white debris that streaks her forehead and belly feathers?  A beautiful morning with lots of sun and light winds.

A beautiful weekday morning with blue skies and lots of sun!  The male peregrine falcon was seen perched on its own and basking in the glorious morning sun.  The female has not been seen in a few weeks.

Under partly sunny conditions with temps in the 30’s, had a nice time observing the male peregrine falcon perched on a favorite rocky outcropping near the nest ledge.  After 20 minutes, the falcon barely moved, other than to constantly turn its head and look around at nearby birds and a few other minor distractions.