Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon

FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON DAY 8:

I arrived to see a juvie flyoff the nest building and go west. Parent was off like a shot behind them. Lost sight of them, as I had just pulled up and didn’t have my bins out yet! I figured Gordon but who knows. Ted joined me for a bit. Parent returned alone or so I thought. Saw Lightfoot on the nest ledge. Up popped one on the roof of the nest building… Paige? No Gordon! Had he come from behind the building? Oh well, he’s good. Saw him do a few lovely flights. Then the parents were up alarm calling! In a frenzy… Two fledglings and one about to, total protective mode. Unfortunately the building had to go out into the “pit” on the roof (its like at least 10 feet down, too bad peregrines have such good sight!) but only very shortly. But after the last couple of days, they were on high alert. But, this lead to me finding Paige. No she did not pop up but the parents, once the guys had exited, were still circling and alarm calling.. And they went over to the other building and circled there briefly on one side. Paige? I walked over and found her on the sign there! Wow. Now that’s quite a feat, so I was impressed. They all stayed put for a bit. Then there she came flew from the sign trying to make roof of nest bldg and missed, touched off the concrete, recovered, out and back onto the rooftop! Way to go Paige!! Rooftop pair got fed for their efforts and even Lightfoot got a bit. Maybe to keep her down as it started to pour… Again. We even got a funnel cloud advisory! Really? What next on this watch?? Smoke, torrential rains, and funnel cloud advisory? Geez.  As I was watching Lightfoot, all of a sudden Gordon popped up…he was back on the nest ledge with his sister and stayed there until the evening. Sally joined me in the afternoon.

This is her report for the rest of the day :

Bob joined us in the evening after an uneventful afternoon, with food brought in (and Paige eventually getting a large package) we started to pack up, joking that this would probably get the kids going. We jinxed ourselves. Wings flapped. The parents flew in circles for a bit as if to say OK time to settle. Paige and Gordon decided to fly off the ledge and slightly out and back, overlapping. Then Gordon repeated last night’s pre-bedtime flight. Over to Intel and back. He attempted to set off again but Mom was having none of it. We watched the peregrine version of a parent chastising their kid and pushing them ahead back home. He briefly pushed back and she literally kicked his butt. It was very entertaining.

Paige decided to try a flight over as well, but overshot the Intel building and soon came back over to ICICI. Mom didn’t go after her and Dad didn’t budge from his spot. She missed the roof landing but recovered really well, turning nicely and landing a little clumsily. After Mom flew out and back to a favourite ledge, Gordon snuck back across to Intel and landed for the night on a top ledge. And this time Mom watched him without budging. Surely they’d settle now, after 9pm? Nope. Paige flew again as well and dad briefly went after to check on her. She appeared OK on the top of Intel building. Talk about pre-bedtime zoomies. We closed the watch with Lightfoot unfledged, Gordon and Paige on Intel. These fledglings seem to be active mornings and evenings, just before close.

I sure hope Lightfoot goes well tomorrow… I’m a bit tired from the long days lol