Bird #108: The Peregrine Falcon and the Joy of the Unexpected

So far this year, I’ve photographed 108 bird species. But lately, the pace has slowed. I’ve already documented most of the common species in my area, so now I’m actively hunting for the ones I’m missing.

To help with that, I use a mobile app called eBird, which can alert me to birds that have recently been spotted nearby but aren’t yet on my list. A few days ago, I went looking for chipping sparrows. Today’s mission: peregrine falcons.

The Hit-or-Miss Game of Target Birding

This targeted technique doesn’t always work. In my last five outings, I’ve only spotted the target species once. More often, I don’t see the bird I came for at all. Instead, I photograph whatever birds cross my path and log the visit in eBird.

Sometimes, I’m rewarded with an unexpected bonus—like the day I went searching for chipping sparrows but ended up with some beautiful shots of California scrub jays. So while these “hunts” don’t always yield the intended result, they’re still successful in their own way. I’ll take it.

Point Fermin and the Peregrine

Today was different.

We visited Point Fermin in San Pedro on a cool, cloudy morning with one goal: find a peregrine falcon. Aside from the usual park birds, crows, ravens, sparrows, we weren’t having much luck. The only distant movement came from a few brown pelicans.

Just as we were about to leave, I had an idea. Instead of looking for birds, I looked for photographers.

Sure enough, we spotted a group of about seven gathered around expensive, tripod-mounted cameras, all aimed at the same rocky cliffside. I quietly joined them, pointing my camera in the same general direction.

A few minutes later, a female peregrine falcon emerged from her nest, soared overhead, and flew off toward the Korean Friendship Bell. I managed a few blurry shots on that first pass.

But then she returned.

She landed on the cliff face and posed just long enough for me to take dozens of photos. I selected one to represent bird #108 for the Bird Nerd Project. I left feeling like I’d just won something special.

108 Peregrine Falcon, Point Fermin Park, San Pedro

Bonus Stop at Cabrillo Beach

Afterward, we swung by Cabrillo Beach. No new species today—it remained gray and overcast—but I still came away with a few photos I really liked. My favorite? A lone snowy egret, standing tall on a dark jetty, surrounded by moody light and crashing waves.

I’ve shared the photo below.