Peregrine Falcon - Centennial (Arapahoe)

[Jared Del Rosso]

While I filled my platform feeder this morning (9/19), a large raptor flew low over me. I tried to get my binoculars on it, but missed at it before it disappeared behind my neighbors' yards. I looked around the area trees, finding nothing. Eventually, I thought to inspect the large power towers north of my house. Tucked away, on the lone tower visible from the corner of my yard, was a Peregrine Falcon. 

This is my third Peregrine sighting in west Centennial (Arapahoe Co.) since moving here in early-March 2016. The previous two were in the spring this year. Both of those earlier sightings were flybys, though. Pigeons -- usually a dozen or two -- line the tower lines near where the peregrine was perched; another two or three dozen can usually be found just a bit farther east by Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. A half dozen or so collared doves are also usually on these lines. When I moved here, I hoped that combination -- a high perch and potential prey -- might eventually get me a good Peregrine sighting. Today was it! (Poor photo below.)

Also in my yard was a Wilson's Warbler. And through my window, as I wrote this, I watched a group of four Blue Jays steal my not-yet-ripe raspberries, even though that platform feeder is filled with peanuts. 

- Jared Del Rosso

Centennial, CO