FLEDGE AT FORDHAM!!!

When Chis Lyons and I arrived at the Fordham nest, we could only see two eyasses on the nest. Not really all that unusual as they can be far back and invisible or lying flat and invisible from the ground. But still....it is fledging time. Groups of excited people passed by, took a look in the scopes, when suddenly a gentleman named Glen who worked for the university came over and said, "I saw a hawk up on the roof of Dealy Hall this morning around seven." Then he pulled out his phone, he'd taken a photo, and told us the bird didn't have a red tail. Bingo. One of Rose and Hawkeye's three youngsters had most likely taken the dive over the weekend. Chris thinks Saturday is likely.

Chris and I had already spotted one of the adults and when we went to the roof of Dealy Hall to check if the fledgling was still there we spotted her on an adjacent building. A grand time was had by all.

The full report with photos is in the works.

Donegal Browne

The Divine Red-tails vs The Kestrels and the Crows and the ? PART II

PART II

7:28:35PM Another swoop, Isolde whips her head to the side and it misses.

7:38:33PM (8 seconds later) Another bird and another swoop. It looks like it got her in the back.

7:38:39PM (five seconds later) She looks to be in pain.
Isolde is no longer on Gab, she goes east towards the Park.

7:40:58PM Isolde flies into the nest. Almost immediately she suddenly flies back out again.

7:42:33PM And then just as suddenly Tristan is on the urn. And he seems to be saying something that we can't hear.

7:51PM The youngest and oldest are paying attention to Dad, but the middle eyass isn't.

7:52PM Bookends. Just moments before the right eyass had tensed to jump to Andrew's finger, changed her mind and looked out alertly. After a moment she tenses and bravely goes for it this time.

7:54:01 ONE (Tailbiter) just starts to flap and TWO has her eyes glued to ONE's feet. Flapping is great on Andrew's finger (there is some room) but they instinctively seem to know that doing the usual hopping while you're flapping will turn you into an early fledge before you know it. Therefore the grip on the finger is vitally important.

7:54:28PM Now she really gets going and the younger eyass keeps her eye on those feet. Remember the eyes on the feet thing for self preservation? To be doing it at this age may mean it's wired in.

7:56PM Just seconds before was the first episode this season of the "upside down head" move.

8:05pm Hawk hunting focus.

8:16PM Waiting.

8:24PM Still scanning.

8:40PM Exit (Where is Isolde?)

Winkie's Early Report on The Cathedral Nest

Palemale Irregular Winkie sends in today's early report. The 5:30 to 8:30PM Late Report by another Irregular, RED-TAILS VS THE KESTRELS AND THE CROWS AND ? is being worked on and will be posted soon.

Here is Winkie's Early Report on The Divines.

Hi there, it's Winkie

Yesterday afternoon, Saturday, I ran into Stella Hamilton and her friend Clare Dane. This was about 4 p.m. Still all three on nest.

(Stella and Clare are Red the Squirrels Guardian Angels.)

Tailbiter and Cohort are still like bookends on either side of the saint. Is Tailbiter the one which is always on the right? This one is going to be a big bird! A lot of the times lately, when I have stopped by, the Third is taking over Tailbiter's spot -- or rather trying to share and is next to the column on the right.

(Tailbiter is the oldest so she pretty much gets to do what she wants and yes, when not on Andrew's head or as of today, Andrew's hand, she often picks the plum right nest edge position. D. B.)

Today, Sunday, 12 noon. Still all three. Cohort is feeding on the left. And the third is in the back of the nest. Clouds of down are still coming out. Tailbiter seems to want to get all of this nonsense off her (based on size, but who knows yet) own tail.

Hope all is well with you. I've had much to do with family and others have been sending you good pics and notes. I'll check again this evening and send word if there is anything different. Otherwise, it'll be late tomorrow before I can check again.

Winkie