The leaves of the exotic trees in Orange are turning red and yellow and the nights are cooling, although it’s still surprisingly warm. The youngsters are long gone. We had a scare following a call about a falcon with an injured wing on a road in Orange, but it turned out to be a hobby, which is very similar, but smaller and more golden in colour. that bird has gone into care.
Both birds have been regular visitors to the box. Diamond has discovered a piece of wood I put in the corner to stop them building a scrape there (as it’s out of view of the both webcams) and is delighting on perching on it for hours, after her initial suspicions were allayed. I intend to replace this with a sturdier rock. She is spending most nights in the box, but is often away as well. Xavier usually visits first thing in the morning. Here is making rather a clumsy entry:
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/DvxBIgcZoHw
What is a bit odd is that both birds have been bringing prey into the box. Xavier brought in a small lump recently and looked hopefully around for someone to offer it to (!), and Diamond brought in a smallish prey after dark last night – and collected it before dawn this morning (so, whilst I could record it, I couldn’t identify it). Whether she had been given this by Xavier or caught it herself, I don’t know. But I do know that just prior to that she had been sitting on the ledge with an extremely full crop, so she certainly wouldn’t have been hungry, so I rather suspect it came from Xavier.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/x1IiXx222-Q
And the retrieval in the morning (but still dark):
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Mp8Q8AgYdW8
The birds have also been bowing in courtship ritual, with Xavier dancing around Diamond in his usual light-footed way. Nothing particular unusual about this as they renew their bonds at regular intervals, but a nice picture.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/TCp48JOD8BE
I”ll probably do one more post before I go overseas (I leave on May 14; back July 18). Bye for now.
Thanks Cilla for your update. I sometimes saw our male falcon in Japan bringing food to the nest ledge and calling his mate even in non-breeding seasons.They might have had some kind of fight and he wanted to make up with her…? I don’t know. But not only dancing but sometimes presents may be necessary to keep their bonds (like us!), I guess.
Thanks, Cilla 🙂 Yesterday afternoon (28 April) Xavier brought in another blob – quite a good sized one this time, headless and ready for the table…
He flew out with it just as Diamond arrived. Tease!!! She waited a couple of seconds before heading out after him.