Buffalo Bill Back at ADM
May 18, 2013 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Bruce and I headed out to the Port Colborne area to check up on Buffalo Bill and Trillium who we last saw at the Robin Hood mill 4km to the north up the canal. It appeared that the pair may in fact try to reclutch in a vent on the canal side of the mill and there was much evidence of whitewash indicating they were here most often. This was all due in part to the visit by a juvenile coming into her sub adult year that we believe was Lucky Seven based on her band configuration and tape colours. When we arrived in Port Colborne, we headed to the Robin Hood mill first and all was very quite, too quite for nesting peregrines. We checked the vents and overhangs very carefully and could not locate Trillium or Buffalo Bill. We decided to head down to the ADM mill and see if we could locate the pair there. After scanning the buildings and marina, we located Buffalo Bill on the gridwork of the main building roosting. He sat for quite some time and we decided to wait him out as we were coming into the “witching hour” when peregrines look for the last food of the day. We weren’t disappointed as Bill came off of the tower and stooped low over the canal. He returned to the gridwork shortly with talons empty. After a brief rest, he was off again. This time he went out over the lake and out of our view. He returned in 5 minutes without food for the second time. Suddenly Bruce says, “Here he comes!” and he wasn’t kidding! Bill came right over our heads fairly low and on a mission. He flew past the marina towards town and went into a spectacular stoop behind some distant trees. We waited for his return but after 40 minutes he was still absent. Success!! We are sure he was chowing down somewhere and so we left for the drive hack to the Raptor Centre. With the observations of new eggs that Doug has posted, this all makes sense. Bill was onsite for an hour and a half and staying very close to the main building. Hopefully Buffalo Bill and Trillium can now enjoy a bit more privacy and we will eagerly await the potential hatch of young. A huge thank you to Doug and the ADM team for keeping a sharp eye on their pair and being such awesome hosts.
The pictures aren’t great as Bill caught me by surprise but I have added a couple of him whipping through.
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