The purpose of the trip was Peregrine related…but needed to simple stop because the over land flooding continues.
Normally a busy section of road with vehicles traveling back and forth… Pelicans and a Great Blue Heron had replaced the traffic on this day.
I’m sure it will be some time before it’s again open.
Of course I managed to get closer to the Heron and Pelicans…but that’s for another day.
Another member of the Falcon Family…American Kestrel’s perhaps not as common as the larger Merlin’s.
They have two very noticeable black vertical stripes on the side of their faces. Unlike Merlin’s who use abandoned crows nest the Kestrel is a cavity nester and will use old Woodpecker holes or openings in manmade structures.
Kestrels are often seen along country roads…taking advantage of telephone/hydro lines to perch on and hunt from.
They tend to hover when hunting and take their prey on the ground…which consists of insects, mice and small birds.
So if you’re out for a drive in the country keep an eye for one of these small Falcons.
After a long winter that seemed to drag on-n-on it was exciting to see Osprey return to the urban site.
Now beginning to question if the nest will in fact be occupied this season…since both male and female have been seen but not both at the same time.
The fact that both aren’t around the nest seems unusual for this time of year. Perhaps the birds seen are without out mates…who knows.
It’s another wait and see scenario.