Urban Prairie Falcon

This time of year, a distant white splotch high on the wires above Tucson’s Rillito River can be only one thing: a Prairie Falcon.

This bird was surveying the dry riverbed when I crossed the bridge this morning. I quickly (and carefully!) managed to pull into a parking lot, from which I admired the bird and snapped a couple of pictures. An eye on the clock, I turned back out of the parking lot, only to be nearly smashed by (what else) a Buick-load of others who had caught sight of the bird and pulled off themselves–with less care than perhaps desired.

But all’s well that ends well, and I hope this fine raptor is here to stay for a few months at least.