A hot day was forecast, and I did not want to do something too strenuous or be out in the hot sun too much, so I thought it would be worth visiting the sea cliffs again to see how a family of Peregrine Falcons were going. On earlier trips I had been fortunate to observe three chicks.
On this visit, I observed two chicks. Another bird photographer that was there told me that one info the chicks had fledged earlier that morning and flown off with the adult male.
Here is the adult female –
And the two chicks were on a ledge further along.
Here you can see mum and the chicks out of focus behind.
Back to the chicks –
This one can almost fly –
Was their mother getting ready to fly?
Then an Osprey flew past.
I thought the adult female may fly out and attack the Osprey, keeping it wet away from her chicks, but it sat there watching the Osprey.
More photos of the chicks.
Then the adult female took off.
It flew around a bit then returned.
Now the mother was more distant and the chicks closer.
For a while both the chicks had been calling out, presumably for food. Their mother had been putting up with their noise, and it suddenly took off and flew away along the cliffs. Was it wanting to get away from the noise, or to look for the third chick or perhaps it was going hunting.
As soon as their mother flew off, both chicks suddenly became quiet. They must instinctively know to be quiet when their guardian is away.
I had been hoping the mother would return, perhaps with some prey. But it wa starting to get too hot, so it was time for me to leave.