Greetings,

Today while visiting an ex-coworker just up the road from my house in Claverack, I was able to spot a small flock (~15) of calling HORNED LARKS flying over her corn field. The birds milled about for a few minutes before flying over the treeline undoubtedly to one of the neighboring fields.

However, the greatest surprise came in the form of a stooping PEREGRINE FALCON. As I was standing outside of her house in the early morning hours, I noticed a largish bird high in the air, and at first glance I thought it was just a crow or raven, both of which I detected today at her property. However, it quickly became apparent this was not a corvid as the bird suddenly swept its wings back and went into a diving stoop in my direction. Within seconds it dropped hundreds of yards in altitude and showed the distinctive Peregrine profile before flying over my head and beyond the trees behind her house. It would have been fun to watch the tail end of that dive to see what prey item if any were present that it was going after.

This is not the first time that I’ve spotted Peregrine Falcons near my home in Claverack, however, it has been a few years, and it would be interesting to see if this bird will remain around for any length of time.

Bird on,
Chad