This past week there have been two peregrine falcons flying around the cliffs over the Reserve entrance and above the highway near the Eagle Trail. They seem to be inspecting the cliffs and using them to glare at the barn, cliff and violet green swallows that have just recently arrived from their winter respite. Feynner and I were able to look at this pair who were sitting near each other about 500 feet above the library. Feynner spotted this white rock he had not noticed before and lo and behold it was the white breast of the larger bird.
Just above on another rock outcrop was the smaller bird. Both were preening themselves, standing on one talon at a time. We were able to watch them through one of the Questar scopes that the USGS sea otter trackers use. We could see the yellow rings around their eyes. These photos were taken with a Canon Powershot digital held up to the ocular. It is not the maximum magnification of the scope.
