RAPTORS

Megan swung by last night to catch Bagdad Cafe with the wife (a movie that makes you wish the phrase heart warming wasn't so devalued).

I was called out to the garden, where they were taking tea with a spot of milk, to ID some strange birds in a nearby tree.

At first the gals thought they had a pair of lost seagulls. Then owls, but it was still light out. I took a look and they were waaaay to big for seagulls, and weren't sitting right to be owls, not even rabid ones braving the late afternoon sun.

One was perched at the summit of a pine tree, looking uncomfortable and making a weird squawking sound. Another one flew over and started circling the three.

"Holy shit, those are falcons....I think those are Peregrines!" I marvelled, slack jawed as a yokel fresh off the bus in Times Square.

Another one flew into the picture, and after a few circuits of the tree the three of them took to the sky, all making really strange growling noises. The treed one was a youngster- he was fluffier than the other two, and not as sure of his balance.

I think it was the family that nests in Morro Bay. I dunno what they were doing this far from their usual stomping grounds, but what are the chances it was some other family of Peregrine Falcons just passing through?

They were just beautiful in the air.
Gliding they were an art deco vision, all sweeping curves and patterns. Maneuvering they swooped and turned much faster and crisper than any large bird should- the spirit of a sparrow in something the size of a well fed housecat.

The young one kept coming back and landing in the tree, and the parents kept flying around arguing and chiding.

We hung out and watched them until they resolved their discussion & all took off, spiralling up until they were just graceful commas in the sky.