May 13, 2009

5/10, Mother's Day at Riverside

I arrived at the Riverside Park red-tail site around 4:15 on Mother's Day to just catch the tail end of a feeding. A couple little heads bobbed up and down a few times, and then they promptly lay down for a nap. Dad flew in soon after with a rat for their next meal, and he and mom mutually checked over their kids for a few minutes.

Riverside Red-Tail Mama and Papa

Dad then shifted out to perch on a branch almost overhanging the promenade.

Riverside Red-Tail Mama and Papa

And shifted again.

Riverside Red-Tail Mama and Papa

He perched in that breezy spot for five or ten minutes.

Riverside Red-Tail Papa

And then took off to the north.

Mom stayed in the nest for a bit, but then also took off. At first it looked she was going to perch in a tree 100 yards or so to the north, but when next spotted, she was way overhead, circling hundreds of feet up with her mate.

Eventually Riverside mom returned, but not directly to the nest. She perched for a while on the same branch that dad had been on earlier.

Riverside Red-Tail Mama

A very gusty spot on this windy day.

Riverside Red-Tail Mama

Then after a good scratch.

Riverside Red-Tail Mama

Went back to the shady nest.

Riverside Red-Tail Mama

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