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[STLbf]

A peregrine has been perching in the branches near the cedars above the locks most of the day. Cannot tell which bird.

But there was another takeoff from the camera housing at the raccoon kerfluffle, and that bird appeared to be lacking the blue band.  My pic is far away and not clear, so it could be Savanna.  Or, maybe that other female that was hanging around right after return from migration.  Anybody have the real scoop?

[Nora in IA]

Thanks for this morning's news and the update this afternoon.  Hopefully whoever took off isn't trouble and those raccoons better STAY up there and not venture down.

[Phyl]

Many thanks STLbf great snaps and  comments.
So funny racoons getting buzzed! That should let them know that the
nest box is off limits.  Take care masked varmets

[shep]

April 9, Easter Sonday
4.30 am  Barge coming downriver.

Coons've been spotted both on top of the cliff and below - street level.
Did they get last years juvies who fell?
We will never know

3 pm  Whats wrong with this barge??
Tugs are splitting the barge cars
At dusk, note - tugs had moved barge to clear path to lock
More tugboats came up from the south - one had come down from the north.
AT LEAST 4 tugs workin - it was there for HOURS - into the night .....

Note off explore
RRP has been asked by the Lock and Dam to please focus the cam this way in order to help them monitor the situation remotely.

April 10 at 6.45 am  tugs have broken up more of the barge ........

WABASHA LOCK note -
Scheduled maintenance planned
 1:00pm-5:00 pm
 April 11, 2023

[shep]

April 10
9.20 am
Problem with downriver barge
FINALLY took off down river around 2 pm today
That barge was there about 24 hours!
WHY?

3.45 pm  Here comes a dredge down river
Maybe that barge was loaded and had hit bottom?

5 pm  An upstream barge who wants to enter the lock is waltzing with the dredge

2 more barges passed thru lock upriver in the evening

[Nora in IA]

Interesting on the barge and having the GSB cam monitor it.

[Nora in IA]

I had to smile.  Newman was on the eggs and Savanna flew in.  I was waiting for the frenzied exit of Newman and he just stayed there and she patiently perched for a bit.

[STLbf]

Nora, I watched that interchange around 9:00 this morning, too.  Newman briefly left the eggs but came back in a few moments. Then a larger peregrine landed on the nest box perch, and I was puzzled that Newman did not leave the eggs.  Listen to the sounds from the larger bird that came and went. Doesn't sound like Savanna at all.  I think it is an interloper who has been hanging around and perching in the branchy trees near the cedars in the direction of the locks.

Well after all that speculation, I went back and did frame-by-frame on rewind. The mystery bird is indeed NOT Savanna.  Leg bands are not blue, but black. I think it is the other female that was here earlier in the season.

Stay tuned, Savanna and Newman made a regular change at 10:00, See next pics.  Whew.

[STLbf]

Here's pics of the exchange at about 10:00 this morning.

[Nora in IA]

Wow I'm surprised he didn't really react to someone else!  Interesting.

[STLbf]

I was surprised also, Nora.  But this bird has been around most of the spring, and Newman may have mated with her, so at least it seems he recognized her.  Always something new to learn, huh?

[STLbf]

Saturday morning at Great Spirit Bluff: The eggs look OK about 7:30 as Savanna watches over them from the camera housing. See her shadow? And her bands in another view. She looks tall and thin; could be from the work of laying and incubating four eggs!

Changeover from Savanna to Newman at about 10:00.

[Phyl]

Thanks Nora/STLbf for keeping up with  N and S 's activities.

[LORIDAVIS]

Great Spirit Bluffs home of Newman & Savanna with 4 eggs...



Let it snow!!!


(Newman is not budging from his egg time as Savanna sticks out her chest after politely asking him to move)


"Seriously Newman?"  as Savanna looks at the camera in disbelief...


"Fine I will go hang out at the cliff ledge until dinner Savanna".


4 beautiful eggs!!!


Savanna and Newman have four eggs:
First egg at 8:28 PM on March 29
Second egg at 4:35 AM on April 1
Third egg at 12:32 PM on April 3
Fourth egg at 11:15 PM on April 5
Watch for hatching to begin somewhere around Saturday, May 6. via giabear explore.org

[shep]

I love it - and I love the snowfall - on the cam - NOT on my sidewalk!