The Falcon and the Squirrel

I came across these superb pictures made by Chad & Chris Saladin.
The pics were shot in April. Hillary of Hilliard Bridge sat in a close tree, when a squirrel started making his way up toward her. She watched intently as the squirrel checked her out from a branch right across where she was perched. Then the squirrel started up her branch. Hillary gave the defensive posture, then lunged a bit toward the squirrel, and he scooted the other direction.
It is as if Hillary is saying: Don't you know who I am? Do you want to end up as my dinner, come on and make my day.
And gone he was the squirrel, a fascinating interaction between raptor and potential prey. Peregrine falcons do catch squirrels. But not like this. The squirrel in a tree is much faster than a peregrine falcon.
But Chris and Chad have seen Hillary dining on a squirrel once.......
The pics are magnificent. Thank you Chris and Chad Saladin!

Quest of Rochesters travels

September 7 th: Quest has really settled down in her Summer territory. She has found herself a save place full of prey. Here she can practise her hunting skills and feed herself to build up power and strenght. It is great for her that she has flown all the way from Rochester, New York to Cape Cod. It is such a wonderful start for a young peregrine falcon. And it makes us all very happy to know she is doing well!

Alcoa Anglesea day 12