Date: 7/24/12 10:22 am
From: Jason Berry <jgbrc...>
Subject: Re: [MDBirding] Solomons bridge Peregrine


Interesting.� I had a Peregrine on the Potomac River in DC also attacking a lone Cormorant.� Maybe they just enjoy going after these big, ungainly birds (at least compared to their sleek frames)!

Jason



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From: James Tyler Bell <jtylerbell...>
To: MDBirding <mdbirding...>; MD- SMAS <md-smas...>
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 12:38 PM
Subject: [MDBirding] Solomons bridge Peregrine


This morning, as I was driving northbound on the Solomons bridge, I noticed a scattered group of cormorants flying left and right of the crest of the span. Usually, they're in some sort of cluster so I thought it was odd that they were breaking formation. Suddenly, one of the resident Peregrine Falcons zoomed in out of nowhere and began attacking one of the cormorants. It struck the bird which flipped upside down trying to defend itself. The falcon was easily half the size so there's no way it was trying to kill it for food. Must have just been practicing aerial maneuvers. Maybe even a juvenile? Always a treat to see one of the Peregrines on my commute!

Also, for the last week or so, there's a winter wheat field along Rt. 4 between St. Leonard and Port Republic, just north of the turn to Western Shores Blvd.,
that has a red barn adjacent to it that has been hosting up to a dozen Rock Pigeons. Yeah, I know, a trash bird but they've become uncommon in Calvert especially since the falcons tend to decimate the population at the Solomons bridge.

Also, the all white wedding doves are still hanging around Prince Frederick most often around the Kmart.


Tyler Bell
<jtylerbell...>
California, Maryland
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