Today has been little different than the last 10 days or so. The birds were sitting somewhere away from the nest ledge when I arrived and there was calling now and then.  After quite a while I knew that there was something about to happen because I heard some interaction with lots of clucking which started to rise in intensity and then to a crescendo. I suspected that mating was perhaps taking place. I anticipated that the falcon would come  to the ledge and I was absolutely correct because she flew in right on cue.  Her clucking had continued as she flew  and then on the ledge she  carried it on for a short while. I timed her precisely and she was cautious for 2 minutes exactly, remaining motionless apart from seeming to scan the area to check for safety before she made her way in to the nest scrape and instinctively started to hollow out her nest hollow. She remained on the ledge for getting on for 9 minutes before flying off again. After it was quiet I left the hide carefully and under cover and cautiously went to a few spots higher up with views of the scrape.  I was hoping to see if I could see any eggs in the nest but I couldn't get in to a vantage point that gave me a clear view.  Once eggs are laid it is going to be interesting to see if the birds sit nearer to the ledge, or on the ledge to guard them.  With many Ravens in the territory, I would suspect this to be the case.

The "falcon" on the nest scrape.