Pied-billed Grebe 3 Killdeer 8 Peregrine Falcon 2 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Rusty Blackbird 25 | New Saginaw River Rail Trail, BA |
My brother and I were biking on the new Saginaw River Rail Trail that starts at the east end of Hotchkiss Rd and goes south along the western side of the Saginaw River to Crow Island State Game Area. We were royally treated by a pair of Peregrine Falcons that were hunting over a large, freshly harvested corn field. One of them landed on something and the other one flew up relatively high then swooped down on the unsuspecting Peregrine and nabbed its prey. The 'robbed' Peregrine spent at least five minutes giving chase to the cargo carrying 'robber' that included a couple of passes right over our heads. I could tell the prey was some type of bird as it dangled from it's talons. The chase continued to the south of us and out of sight. Another one of those "being in the right place at the right time" moments!
This should be a good birding locale at various times of the year with wooded areas, farm fields, Saginaw River, mud flats, two bridges over waterways, and Crow Island. It's something of which birders should take advantage.