Strut your stuff…

Waves breaking on the north jetty    Drawing by Heather O'Connor

Waves breaking on the North jetty                                Drawing by Heather O’Connor

A couple of below freezing nights, three days of high surf advisories with 14 foot waves breaking over the jetties, a “king tide” with some great minus tides for gathering mussels, three days of 85°F heat and plenty of sunshine. Not a bad start for December.

Now, if it would only rain like they are predicting for tomorrow and the falcons start breeding, I’ll be real happy. Both pairs of falcons, north and south, continue bonding and courtship activity.

Struttin' a single      Photo by Cleve Nash

A Western Gull… worth a base hit                                                               Photo by Cleve Nash

Territories are becoming more defined and both tiercels are more aggressive towards all types of birds.

A Black crowned Night Heron... good for a double      Photo by Cleve Nash

A Black-crowned Night-Heron… good for a double                                 Photo by Cleve Nash

Cormorants are not the type of thing you chase off unless you are trying to impress your girlfriend.

A Red Tail Hawk ....  Photo by Cleve Nash

A Red-tailed Hawk…worth a triple                                Photo by Cleve Nash

A cormorant might get you to first base, but a Bald Eagle will get you a home run in more than one ballpark.

Bald Eagle ...  Photo by Cleve Nash

A juvenile Bald Eagle…this is  in home run territory                               Photo by Cleve Nash

It won’t be long now once they start showing their stuff. With all this macho testosterone activity, the south side tiercel still tries to occupy the “twig”* when the female is not present. And every time she arrives, she knocks him right off of it, sometimes violently if he doesn’t move fast enough. Either he didn’t get the memo or he likes the abuse.

Happy trails, Bob

Item: Once breeding starts, it will be her thirteenth season at the rock and his sixth season. Season’s Greetings from the two of us.

*See the previous story “Twiggin’ it…” on November 13, 2013

About Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch

The Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch is here to inform birders, students and all people who are eager to know about these handsome peregrines. We want you to enjoy and be able to use our on-site powerful spotting scopes. We are available to answer your questions about the pair of falcons that have been observed for many years.
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4 Responses to Strut your stuff…

  1. Sue Boardman says:

    Even from this distance, I can feel the excitement building Wish the commute wasn’t such a killer.

    • Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch says:

      Can’t wait for my lawn chair birding partners to arrive from the cold north! I think you might have met Larry from Iowa, another lawn chair birder, who will be here on the 15th of January for 3 months. Everything culminates at once! Breeding, babies, birders, etc. Can’t wait. ~Bob

  2. Sue Linsley says:

    Hi Bob. Great post with fabulous pics as always. Was that bald eagle at the rock? Thanks, sue

    • Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch says:

      The photo was taken in 2012, one of two juveniles we believe fledged from the pair at Whale Rock Reservoir. Glad you enjoyed the post! ~Bob

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