Steath Air Show by Storm at Holcim
April 28, 2013 - Mississauga - Holcim
Tracy Simpson Reports:
This weekend Bruce and I decided on a check up of Storm and Caspian at Holcim Cement after the juvenile intrusion last week. When we arrived there were no peregrines in view and so we scanned about for a roosting adult. Nothing. We continued to search the plant and all of the usual perches. Nada! I sat down on the sidewalk on Avonhead Road and decided that I would relax and enjoy my coffee before we headed back to the Raptor Centre and call it a day. Just then, a bird came whipping over the top of the Holcim fence no more than 12 feet off of the ground, skimmed the top of the fence on our side of the road and then swooped along the contour of the berm to the other side. Now at first all I caught was grey and big so the first thing I am thinking, based on flight style, is that this is a Cooper’s hawk. I saw the starlings and blackbirds scatter on the other side of the berm and knew the bird was circling back. Right over the top of the fence comes the little stealth bomber… …it’s Storm!!! With a mouthful of coffee I could barely get out “peregrine” and just waved and grunted until Bruce caught sight of him. Storm went low over the Holcim fence and then coursed along the front of the small silos facing Avonhead Road and circled back into the heart of the plant. WOW!! That was cool!! Bruce started walking up the road to see if he could spot Storm hunting over the main plant area and just as he was well out of earshot, here comes Storm again! He flew down through the center of the plant, under the conveyor, barely over the top of the fence, across the road at 12 feet and back along the far side of the berm! This show of stealth, control and use of the natural contours of the land for cover was outstanding!! I waved madly at Bruce but he couldn’t hear me and so when Storm came whipping back through, I was the only one to catch sight of it. He crossed to the Holcim plant and swooped up to the nest ledge, said a quick hello to his girl and he was off to the roof of the low silos. He sat there for about 5 minutes preening before he was off again into the heart of the Holcim plant and out of view.
Incredible!! Awesome!! Not enough expletives to describe the technique we were able to witness by Storm. Bravo young man, bravo!!!!!
