Chichester Peregrine Blog

A couple of pictures from this evening.

There are now live pictures from the nest – just follow the link on Chichester peregrines’ Home page and enjoy!

What another beautiful day.  We saw Mum and Dad (there was a change over at the nest)  both looking well fed and very relaxed in spite of three buzzards circling to the south west of them for a while.  Sources told us that she had spent 15 minutes turning her eggs and we are all looking forward to seeing them next weekend on the TV in Cloisters Cafe.

What beautiful weather.  The skies were clear and not an aeroplane in sight – well only one little one looping the loop!!  Both Mum and Dad were on nest duty and enjoying the sunshine alternately.  Breakfast was a nice plump wood pigeon from the larder.  A couple of visits by buzzards didn’t bother them the second one was seen off by some irate seagulls.  Peace reigned.  Thanks to David who was watching from 8.00 am and able to fill us in on breakfast. What a wonderful day!!

Sunday 11th – what a beautiful day! At one point there were over 50 people standing with us watching.  First a sparrowhawk then a buzzard came to investigate – Dad soon sent them packing.Peace was restored and we were treated to a nest changeover so we could see Mum as she had a wash and brush-up and went for a bit of excercise.

As far as we are aware there are 4 eggs and all is well he being the dutiful  Dad while Mum sits on the eggs.No more to report will update in a week or sooner if any news.

The second egg was laid on Monday 22nd in the morning just before dawn.  Dad’s keeping mum well fed on a diet of mostly starlings (they’ve been gathering and doing their murmurations over Chichester train station this winter, obviously nobody warned them about the resident peregrines!).

Yesterday afternoon as we arrived to watch in the cathedral grounds we heard the unmistakable sounds of a peregrine alarm call.  Mum had spotted an intruder from her vantage point on the nest turret.  Dad was up in an instant and there followed several close encounters with an intruder.  We suspect it was the female (it was bigger than Dad) from last year’s brood as it was very reluctant to go.  Dad finally chased her off to the south east and returned to the nest turret – obviously mum didn’t feel he had done a good enough job and took off also in a south easterly direction to make sure.  They were soon both back on the spire and Dad tried a bit of mating but she wasn’t interested and shooed him off.  He disappeared,  to return very quickly with what looked suspiciously like a woodcock.  Mum quickly took charge of this even though she still had a full crop leaving Dad looking hungry!!  Hopefully he got some dinner after we had left!

The first egg was laid sometime last night!  Looks like we will have a family this year after all the speculation. Thanks to Mel and John for the information.  We look forward to seeing everybody at the Cathedral when the RSPB set up shop around the 23 April.