Chichester Peregrine Blog

After a long sleep it’s time for lunch so now we have to wait.

It is now becoming very clear that we have girls and boys the two on the left are so much bigger than the one on the right. Females are always bigger so it really looks like Graham’s second thoughts were right. It really looks like two boys and two girls.

All the plumage is growing well now.

Yesterday there were sparrow hawks and buzzards and a kite flying overhead.  Amazing viewing at Chichester Cathedral!

Our chicks are turning into juveniles.  Now the feathers are really coming through they are looking like peregrines.

This afternoon Mum and Dad together managed to knock a juvenile male buzzard out of the sky as it was too close to their family.  The buzzard landed on the ground near the cathedral and was rescued by the RSPB who took it to a wildlife expert for treatment as he was somewhat dazed.

Well done Mum and Dad and well done to all those who helped retrieve the buzzard.

Hey guys it look like my babies have grown!!  How small does Dad look now!

Some of you may have noticed that the chicks as spending more time out of camera shot.  Some of this is due to the ‘smelly’ nature of the nest now and some to keep out of the sun, but also because the parents are encouraging them to leave the nest.  We are sorry if this means you can’t see what is going on but very soon they will fledge and then if you can get to the cathedral it is a wonderful sight.

See you there hopefully!

Two rogue peregrines have been seen off by our adults already today.  If you have been watching the webcam perhaps you have been able to tell that things were not quite right.

On the first occasion Mum made her presence known without needing to get too near and it went away.  The second time both Mum and Dad sent it off on its way!!

Chicks are doing well and like to go walk-about out of the nest now so keep watching the camera!!

Many thanks to David for the information.

There is a new gallery of pictures of the behaviour of the adults while the chicks are being ringed and video of Graham Roberts as he takes them out of the nest two at a time to weigh and measure them.

Gallery Link

Video link

Initially Graham was sure the chicks were all boys but on looking at the weights and measures he thinks we might have 2 girls and 2 boys.  Things will become clearer as they get older so we will have to wait and see how they progress.

Here is Graham’s picture of the chicks – as you can see they still have blood on their geeks as they have just fed.

Photograph by Graham Roberts