Chichester Peregrine Blog

Both birds seem to be getting rather excited and twitchy.  Over the last week or so, I’ve seen them both on the nest turret, popping inside, and sitting on a pinnacle above looking in.  Yesterday, dad was squawking and fidgety, mum dropped into the nest turret and started making the chittering noise she makes during breeding time.  Won’t be long now!…

Both Mum and Dad were sunning themselves on the Cathedral late yesterday afternoon.  Mum inspected the nest turret and Dad watched with interest and then disappeared from her prying eyes by perching on the ledge below the south west turret – unusually low perch for him!  The presence of the rather large rickety ladder which has now been in place for a while on the west side of the spire seems not to be a problem for the birds.For those of you who heard the rumour that there was a dead peregrine on the side of the road by the Prebendal playing fields (Chartres Avenue) don’t panic – after investigation it was a juvenile gull which had probably chanced his life trying to get food from the middle of the road!!

Mum has been sitting on the nest turret, while dad looks on from his perch high on the spire.  I haven’t seen her on there all winter, so I guess she’s starting to get a bit broody…

After a few months of things being very quiet, I saw a bit of action today.  One of the peregrines flew in from the north and hovered slightly before landing on the central blind window.  Shortly afterwards, the other came in and dived at the perched bird, both then tumbling around each other in the air, squawking loudly.  They they flew for a while around over nearby buildings, chasing each other, before disappearing from view.  I definitely saw a male and female, but it all happened too quickly to see who started it – could be the beginning of courtship behaviour…

A  slightly unusual post – it’s 150 years since the spire of the cathedral collapsed and was subseqently replaced.  I arrived today to see a very, very long, rickety looking ladder on the balcony where the peregrines nest, going right up to the weathervane.  It’s held in place with ropes – I’m still glad I won’t be climbing it!  It’s there for the spire to be closely inspected and maintained.  The birds don’t seem at all fazed – they’re used to building works going on around their home over the years.

Both peregrines seen at the cathedral over the weekend.  Dad was guarding the nesting site from all-comers on a dull Saturday lunchtime and on Sunday in brilliant sunshine Mum was sunning herself on the west of the spire.  What a way to spend the weekend!

Mum and dad seen together sitting on the cathedral after having a very good meal.

Mum and dad have both been enjoying the sunshine of the last few days, yesterday afternoon both sitting on the south side of the cathedral, mum sheltered from the wind on a low ledge, and dad sitting higher up to keep a lookout.

In stark contrast to yesterday both Mum and Dad were enjoying the clean, crisp air of a winter Sunday morning on Chichester Cathedral.

Yesterday afternoon was grey and wet in Chichester.  I glanced up to check on the peregrines as I was passing, and ended up watching for a while.  Both were there, on the north side where it was slightly more sheltered, looking somewhat bedraggled from the rain.  Mum was sitting on the low ledge below the turret, preening, and Dad was restless, moving from perch to perch above her.  Around dusk, he got himself a quick meal from one of the larder turrets, and sat plucking and eating on the north blind window.  He didn’t seem inclined to share – it didn’t look big enough anyway.  I doubt if she’d have been impressed if he had!