Chichester Peregrine Blog

Dad is getting really good at this he must have done it before,breakfast and changeovers at the same time everyday. He always counts the eggs. Next it will be Breakfast in bed!!

Dad doing an excellent job bringing in breakfast and giving Mum a break from sitting on the eggs.The picture shows Dad checking the eggs before he takes up his position on top of them. Well done Mum and Dad doing such a fine job.

Dad is working hard to keep our mum happy. No ready meals yesterday he brought in 2 kills.  Perhaps he is trying to build up the larder so when the eggs hatch he won’t have to work so hard. It won’ be long now before we have chicks another week or so.

More intruder peregrines have been sighted over our nest here in Chichester.  This would seem to be a more regular occurrence with the increase in population of peregrines in Sussex, which is due in no small measure to our prolific pair along with the pair on Sussex Heights. We have seen more invasion of air space this year than in any other year!!

All was quiet when we arrived at Chichester at lunchtime.  Dad had just taken over duty at the nest and Mum had gone for a spin and food.  Just before we left she returned to sit on the south side of the spire.  We didn’t have long to watch today and anyway it was unseasonably cold especially in the wind tunnel that was the east side of the Cloisters!  I am sure both Mum and Dad will be pleased when things warm up a bit!

The RSPB have been having trouble with the live link to the marquee in the Cloisters Cafe garden, but they are hoping to have it fixed by tomorrow.

A quiet day at The Cathedral for the peregrine family.  Yesterday was quite exciting with a persistant gull finally getting into the nest turret to the consternation of our female.  No harm was done but the gull was still in evidence today from time to time.  The great news is that the RSPB are now in Cloisters Cafe garden with telescopes, a live view of the nest and lots of volunteers to help you understand what is going on.

We now have a link from our front page to the Carnyx webcam on our family.  This year we have sound and as I write this I can still see a peregrine asleep on the nest.  Well done Carnyx it is an excellent picture.

We arrived about midday to find Dad up on the top decoration of the south side of the spire from where he has an amazing view of the harbour.  He soon came down to a position just above the nest where he stayed and posed for us and a gathering crowd for some considerable time. Then came the change over and Mum exited to the west side for a wash and brush-up before flying round to the east side of the spire to keep an eye on Dad and her eggs. An amazingly gorgeous day for peregrine watching.

There has just been a change over at the nest – Mum has returned and taken over from Dad.  He’s probably getting too hot now the sun is getting higher.

There are definitely 4 eggs!!!