Air Chief Marshal Grog

aka  Sunshine

*"Come fly with me..."

Sunshine, on a mission...

"Hmmm should we join #6?"

#6: "Here I come, Hawk!"

The Grog young are ranging far and wide now. I happened to meet all six of them when I was walking up the hill over the weekend. Their parents appear to be familiarizing them with the far corners of Grog territory (Is this in preparation for their 'final' launch?). 

As we nodded greetings, a neighboring raven (whom we'll call Ace) as yet unmentioned by me, took a post-stance above us all. The resourceful Sunshine, Mother of the Skies, flew straight up to challenge the great hulk from due north. She not only managed to send him flying after a hair-raising, knocking display but then joined him in seductive flight as they twisted and turned, wings in perfect time.*

This distraction allowed her six young to eat road-kill rabbit (provided by Grog) at their ease without any swiping attacks from the great Ace, something he is known for.  A.C. Grog looked both ways with admiration, to his indomitable mate on high and to his long line of progeny, the Grog guard.

With so many Grogs, I can only hope that their strength in numbers doesn't give them false security. Soon after this, one of the six took off in pursuit of a circling Cooper's hawk. He chased and chased and chased it, only occasionally joined by less enthusiastic siblings.

The next time I looked up, the hawk with wings tucked for speed was racing furiously after Sunshine (Was she taking the brunt of the hawk's annoyance with her child?). After this chase had gone some distance, Sunshine ducked left, coming back up behind the hawk. Now Air Chief Marshal Grog was chasing him.  

Photos courtesy and generosity of Diana@theravendiaries.com