Bay Photos by Donna

In my last post, I shared an autumn photo taken from the dock at Bogles Wharf at Eastern Neck NWR.  It is one of many locations I visit 3-4 times a week at the refuge to look for my birds.

Just two days ago, I slowly pulled into an empty Bogles Wharf parking lot around 7:45 a.m.  It was cloudy, windy, and 46°F (7°C).

To my startling surprise, I spotted a gorgeous Peregrine Falcon perched at the far end of the dock. 

I slowly pulled up alongside the dock and photographed from my car while I can still hear myself saying, “please don’t fly, please don’t fly”. 

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Peregrine Falcon

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Preening, fluffing, and just looking around, not worried about me.  I shot off quite a few shots, then waited for any action. 

A second surprise!  The falcon showed me he was banded.

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“See?  I have bands on both legs!”

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The right leg’s silver band should have a 9-digit federal number on it, but I could not obtain but two numbers with heavy processing.  I have a clean shot of the left leg’s black/green band that shows 61CD.  I’ve reported the sighting and supplied photos.  Hopefully, I will hear back with info on who and where this falcon is from.  (see update at end of post!)

After ten minutes, I was ready to give up on action, when a truck came barreling into the parking lot and pulled up right behind me.  Ignoring the truck, I was ready for the falcon’s anticipated take-off.

The falcon went from fluffed up and adorable to sleek and powerful. 

Wings were flapping! 

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But no take-off.  Wow, I was very surprised.  The truck turned around and left.

The falcon went back to it’s original fluffy pose.  ‘Cuz it was chilly, you know!

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I could see the raptor was back to comfortable, wanting some peace and rest. 

As I slowly pulled away, I watched the falcon watch me leave.  Sweet!  From start to finish, my best encounter ever of this raptor!

UPDATE!  On January 10, 2023, I received an email response to my reporting.  This beautiful Peregrine Falcon is a female. She was banded before fledging in May 2022 by the State of Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife in Westborough.  I received the following certificate.  How cool is that!!

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