Today I have visited the De Mortel nestsite. It was a wonderful day, not to warm, not to much sunshine, so just excellent weather to observe the high tower and everything that was happening on and around it.
I live quite a long way from De Mortel, so I had to drive 230 km to get there. But it is worth every kilometer! To me "De Toren" is some kind of a holy place where S2 lives with Pa. I love them both very much. I think everybody who is involved with the peregrine falcon knows how they fly straight into your heart and soul to stay there till the end of times. I have that with S2. Today I have seen her again and she is the most special, beautiful and amazing creature I have ever seen.
And we did see a lot of her and Pa and the 4 juvies. Especialy those juvies are flying a lot around the tower and from the tower already quite a long way, together or alone. Two of them are quite excellent flyers already gliding and soaring. One even landed very professionally on the antenna. The playing in the air is great to watch and to listen to. So we looked through our scopes and enjoyed what we saw a lot!
And then there was that special moment. 2 Juvies took off together from the tower and started chasing a pigeon. Just for fun no doubt. S2 saw that and she took off like some supersonic rocket. Never ever seen a bird fly that fast, she took the juvies as if they stood still in the sky and caught the pigeon in straight flight. Catch! She had it. Couldn't believe my eyes. In a matter of a few seconds just above our heads. And with no effort at all so it seems. She carried the prey back to the tower with screaming juvies behind her. But no one was very hungry. She dropped it there and left it. Two juvies where sitting there screaming, but she did not move a feather: do it yourself! But they didn;t and lost interest. So much food is around, that they take a fresh prey for granted.
About 2 hours later we saw how 2 juvies and S2 took off. After a while we saw them come back, one carrying a prey. But it was to heavy and fell to the ground. Later we heard people saw how the prey was transferred in the air by S2 to a juvie who could not lift it enough to bring it back to the Tower. Incredible when you realise how young these juvies are, and already that far in their education.
They kept on flying and we enjoyed ourselves very much. Pa showed himself off sitting on the grate being awfully handsome. And we could very well see how beautiful the juvies are!
I have watched S2 for a long time while she was sitting on one of the rings. She is one superb ladyfalcon. She's just perfect. Through the scope I saw her flying off with those mighty wings, coming back and landing, preening. Have you ever seen a creature so beautiful! We are very happy to have her as the Lady of the Tower. And I think she will stay there for many more years to come together with Pa and will give us many more healthy and strong juveniles.
WE had a wonderful day, with lots of great flight actions, we saw all 4 juvies and they are doing great.
Videos courtesy Ton Kuipers:
http://www.ton.keenserver.nl/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=242
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kuiperst/
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