On two NJMC pontoon-boat trips, Friday and Saturday, we were treated to nice looks at a Peregrine each day — the juvenile (above and below) on Friday and an adult on Saturday.

The juvie had returned to the perch at its nest, and was napping when our boat went by. It opened its eyes just long enough to see what was going on.

This has been a great year for nesting Peregrines on the Hackensack River. We had a total of three successful nests.

As recently as seven years ago, we had none.

Now that’s progress — and another sign that river is coming back.