Back in the 1990’s when I attended the Rachel Carson Institute I learned that an important part of nature observation is to make a list of the species I encounter.  This creates a good historical record of those present and can be compared over time to discover which species disappeared.

During birding vacations list-making morphs into a challenge.  How many species did I see?  Did I miss an easy one?

At the Biggest Week in American Birding peregrine falcons aren’t easy to tally because they’re random fly-bys but before I left for northwestern Ohio I did my homework.  If I didn’t see a peregrine in the marshes I knew where to find one.

Sure enough by Sunday night I still hadn’t seen a peregrine and I was leaving Monday without birding so I stopped by the Ottawa County Courthouse in Port Clinton.  I had read that a pair is present this spring.  To be honest, I would have stopped there anyway because I can’t resist the opportunity to see a peregrine.

And here she is, perched below the courthouse clock.  She looks like a sub-adult to me.  Maybe she’ll raise a family next year in the nestbox provided on the south face.

I tipped off my friends Chuck & Joan Tague and Margie Kern so they could tally a peregrine too.  Thanks to Chuck for the photo.

(photo by Chuck Tague)