[mou] Peregrine falcon at Coon Rapids Dam, Anoka County

[Refsnider]

 From about 10 to 10:30 am this morning, while kayaking below the Coon 
Rapids Dam on the Mississippi River, I observed an adult peregrine 
falcon immediately downsteam from the Dam.  It first made several low 
flights over the cobble bars scattering the gulls, waterfowl, and 
herons/egrets, then alighted in a cottonwood tree on the west shore of 
Dunn Island to preen.  With 8X binocs my views were adequate to confirm 
the wide black moustache and the horizontal belly striping.  The upper 
breast appeared clear white.  I shot some rather poor photos.  I did not 
see any leg bands, but using binocs in a kayak, even when grounded, 
results in far-from-ideal viewing conditions, so I easily might have 
missed them.

Other raptors seen during my 3-hours on the River:  immature bald eagle, 
Cooper's hawk chasing a red-tailed hawk, and an osprey with dislocated 
primaries on the left wing (probably the male that has nested at the dam 
for several years).

---Ron Refsnider