18 November 2020
The peregrine falcons have been scarce on the “rock” for the last month or so. This is mainly due to all the migrating waterfowl coming into the back bay estuary during the fall and winter migration. I suppose now this is their holiday feast because we don’t see them returning to the “rock” with prey.
Just this morning two Bald Eagles were reported eating a coot on the pickle weed marsh. But this morning while watching surfers, I spotted what looked like a single falcon high on the skyline near where the waves break on the “rock.”
With a closer look with my 10×42 binoculars, there were two falcons perched close to each other. This is the time of year they start renewing their bonds. Breeding can begin in the next month or two. The earliest I have seen copulation was 30 November ten or twelve years ago. For this pair of falcons, the first breeding of this year was 7 January 2020. This coming year at Morro Rock we should have two breeding pairs now that the south side tiercel has molted into adult plumage.
Happy trails, Bob
Item: The two photos of the “rock,” one taken with an iPhone and the other with my Nikon P1000. The falcons are at a distance of 302 yards from me.
Thanks for the update! We did lots of previous peregrine nest monitoring in the SF Bay Area in past years.
We saw an adult (likely a female) on Tuesday at the State Park Marina.
Looking forward to seeing your posts this upcoming breeding season! Excited to have two pair there to watch!
Thanks for your comment and sharing of your previous experience. It’s beginning! ~Heather
Thanks for posting.
Looking forward to your visit. I’m in the same place! ~Bob
The last time I was at the rock the south side pair was still the old male and the very old female. Is there now the newly mature male and a new female on the south side? Thanks Bob!
We know it’s a new male on the south side. He arrived her in January 2020 in juvenile plumage. No breeding was observed throughout the year. There are mixed feelings about the female. A number of people believe it is a new female and if we see breeding we will know it’s a new female. The old female hadn’t produced chicks for the last four years. Neither of the south side birds are banded so we’re relying on photographs. No one can come to a definitive conclusion whether it’s an old or new female yet. Thank you for your continued interest. Love to see you at the Rock. Feel free to call me. ~Bob
Great work, Bob. Learn something new every time you post! Nice photos too.
Thanks, Jim. Always good to see you at the Rock. ~ Bob