March 20, 2018 in Near the Clock Tower, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts
Arrived in the Clock Tower area close to 6:15 pm and located both peregrines on the south edge of the New Balance building along Merrimack Street. The male sat quietly without moving much. The female was closer to the SW corner and she was cleaning her bill against the edge of the roof line!
March 20, 2018 in Verizon Cell Tower
Made a mid-morning visit in search of the peregrines and located the male perched on one of the exhaust vent ledges on the nearby Verizon Cell Tower. This winter has seen the peregrines perch much later than usual at the Verizon Cell Tower, as egg laying time draws near. Typically, in the weeks leading up to egg laying time, they stay very close to the Clock Tower, and defend their territory from all nearby intruders. This morning the male was seen loafing in the sun at the Verizon Tower!
March 19, 2018 in In the Nest Box, lawrence peregrines, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts
Made a short visit under late day sun with adult female perched outer edge of nest box, enjoying the sun. She has been in or near the nest box the last number of days. She is lethargic and slow in moving around, with egg laying time very near by!
March 15, 2018 in Verizon Cell Tower
Had but a few moments to look for the peregrines; none at Clock Tower, so made a fast pass by the Verizon Cell Tower. Normally, at this point in the calendar, both peregrines would be always found in and around the Clock Tower making sure their territory is well defended, and ready for the breeding season. Not so today, with the male perched on an upper ledge at Cell Tower, under clear skies, bright sun, winds out of west close to 20MPH and gusts over 25MPH, and temps around 40F
March 12, 2018 in On the Clock Tower
Another morning visit to the Lawrence Peregrines at the Ayer Mill Clock Tower, under clear skies, bright sun, wind out of north at 8MPH, and temp just above 30F. Observed both peregrines loafing on upper level perches on the west side of the Tower. One of them flew off while the other remained on a ledge above and to the left of the west side clock face.
February 13, 2018 in Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Haverhill, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts
Made a pass through downtown Haverhill and found both adult falcons atop the apartment building at 170 Washington St. They were perched facing east and into the morning sun. After 12 minutes they both departed, a few minutes apart, for another regular perch, atop the Post Office and the Bank of America building to the east. To the right is the unbanded female.
The male falcon ‘black/green 72/AB’ – color-banded in NH in May 2012, and now approaching 6 years old.
This wild-hatched male was one of two chicks fledged from the falcon nesting box located at the Brady-Sullivan Tower in Manchester. Christian Martin banded him as a 25-day old chick, along with his 21-day old sibling, who later died after falling into an uncapped chimney at the nearby National Guard Armory, and was trapped out of sight in a basement boiler room.
Black/green 72/AB has been present in Haverhill since at least December 2014, when he was spotted and identified by local resident, and well-known NH birders, Steve & Jane Mirick.
February 12, 2018 in lawrence peregrines, Near the Clock Tower, Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts
Made a morning run by the Clock Tower in search of the Lawrence Peregrines. Mostly cloudy, wind from NW at 9MPH, and temp around 42F.
The female was perched on the short but prominent steel beam on south side of Merrimack Street near intersection with Union Street. This is a very regular perch location in the morning, as the weather warms up.
She was midway through a morning snack, when the male zoomed in and snatched the goodies….pair bonding underway!
January 25, 2018 in Verizon Cell Tower
Made a morning sweep in search of the Lawrence Peregrines, by first passing by the Ayer Mill Clock Tower, and then onto the Verizon Cell Tower. Weather conditions: bright sun, clear skies, wind out of NW at 9MPH, and temp rising to 24F. The Cell Tower is one of the most regular perch locations in the colder winter months due to the warm air exhaust vents on the south side of the building!
December 7, 2017 in Verizon Cell Tower
A beautiful morning with clear skies, bright sun, west wind at 9MPH and temp just above 40F. Adult female peregrine falcon perched on the south side of the Verizon Cell Tower on 6th floor ledge enjoying the hot air exhaust vents and morning sunshine; note bulging crop!
December 4, 2017 in Peregrine Falcons Eastern Massachusetts, Peregrine Falcons Haverhill, Peregrine Falcons Massachusetts
Pair of Peregrine Falcons on the weathervane at the Post Office in downtown Haverhill. This adult pair was first discovered by Steve and Jane Mirick. They were not successful in breeding attempts in 2016. The male is perched atop the weathervane with the female below to the left.
They both departed in pursuit of prey and returned a short time late. They were observed under bright sun and clear skies with little wind and temps in low thirties. This pair has not been sighted for the last few months, so this is a welcome sighting and a promising sign of continued pair bonding!
The male provided nice looks at his leg bands. The alpha-numeric black over green left leg bands showed 72/AB. According to Chris martin at NH Audubon, this was a 2012 hatch year chick, 1 of 2 banded at Brady-Sullivan Tower in Manchester NH on 5/10/2012.
