Chichester Peregrine Blog

Today we had to go out and do other stuff  much to our disappointment but our return journey meant we had to pass close to the Cathedral. What a treat female 43 sitting on the bell tower. What luck I had my camera with me, she flew back to the nest turret, some great pictures. We were treated to a great flying display by the adults as well. I will wait to be posted by the RSPB as to when or if 42 has made her maiden flight. What a great time to visit Chichester and see some of the greatest flying you are ever likely to see. A rare privilege.

Female juveniles numbers 42 and  43 spent the majority of the day looking like they might fledge at any moment, but by evening had yet to do so. Mum and Dad continued to attempt to lure the female youngsters to fledge, circling above them often. They even delivered most of the days’ prey into the southwest turret (rather than that on the southeast of the building, in which the nest resides) in an apparent act of bribery! In the early evening the parents relented and brought a meal to the nest site for the young females.

On such a windless day it was perhaps unsurprising that the girls chose not to take to the air today. It is often said that Peregrines prefer to make their first flight into a headwind. Perhaps if there’s a breeze tomorrow they will finally take to the air.

Two of the juveniles have now fledged – 40 and 44 both males.  This afternoon female 43 was seen surveying Chichester from the nest turret – will she be the next to take to the air?  Mum and Dad were close at hand watching from their vantage points in the air and then on the south and east side of the spire.  They are keeping a close watch on the proceedings.

I’m sure everyone will be excited to hear today’s news. After a few days of waiting for the big event, Peregrine number 44 plucked up his courage and took his first flight this afternoon. The big moment came at 3pm, and was completed by a successful landing on the Cathedral a few seconds later.

After all of the preceding days’ activity a period of blazing heat appeared to slow the birds down on Saturday morning and early afternoon. Mum, Dad and the juveniles barely moved a muscle during the hot part of the day.  Mid-afternoon the sun went behind some cloud, the temperature dropped and within minutes the adult birds went back to circling high above the Cathedral. The youngsters immediately responded by resuming flapping their wings and hopping into view on the sides of their turret.

At 3.30pm Dad took a Pigeon in straight pursuit right over the centre of Chichester, around 200 yards north east of the Cathedral. This was passed straight to Mum, who flew around the turret carrying the prey for a minute or two in plain site of her offspring before bringing it into the nest area.  This certainly appeared to be evidence of the adults having decided it’s time to tempt the youngsters into the air.

It has been all go at the Cathedral. After feeding the youngsters ever more often in previous days, Mum and Dad suddenly changed their behaviour yesterday. There were far fewer meals provided during the day, with the adult birds instead soaring around above the nest site, apparently coaxing the juveniles to start thinking about taking to the air. At least one young bird responded by hoping onto the turret’s edge which we think was a first for this year’s batch. This behaviour continued today and amongst much preparatory flapping of wings the young birds often appeared on the turret’s edges, to the delight of those watching from the ground. It seems that it cannot be long until this year’s first maiden flight!

Other events included the chasing-off of a large Common Buzzard by both adult Peregrines, and later on three Red Kites were ushered away from the area north of the nest. Dad struck another Pigeon within yards of  Cathedral creating a big puff of feathers, but failed to capture his prey on this occasion. A busy and exciting day!

No major alarms were noted over the last few days. On Thursday the adult birds provided a remarkable five separate meals (at least) with Dad doing the majority of the hunting. Not to be outdone, Mum amazed those watching during the afternoon by setting off to the north of the Cathedral and returning with a feral pigeon less than three minutes later. It’s no surprise that with such a fine supply of food the young birds by Sunday evening had grown ever larger, shed most of their downy feathers and were looking very much as they will when they hopefully fledge, in a week or two.

There were scenes of celebration in the RSPB tent yesterday. For a couple of days nobody had seen all four chicks at once as the young birds apparently hid beneath the nest camera from the baking sun. Suddenly at 2pm whilst Dad was feeding three of the youngsters a fourth chick appeared to everyone’s relief, and even some cheering!  Two Common Buzzards were dramatically repelled by Mum at lunchtime, and later on a Red Kite went unharrassed as it lazily passed the Cathedral. All quiet otherwise.

What amazing weather this weekend!!!  Needless to say the youngsters were feeling the heat and for much of the time are hiding from the camera in the small amount of shade in the turret.  Mum and Dad continue to bring in food but the chicks are now starting to feed for themselves when neither parent is looking.  Dad’s aim is now very good as he drops food into the turret rather than delivering by hand – so to speak.  Perhaps he is afraid of having his head bitten off for some misdemeanour.  Saturday saw a red kite fly over the cathedral but it was too high to invite any interest from our pair.  Sunday however saw a spectacular defence of the nest when a buzzard strayed too close.

This photo was taken by Graham Roberts just before he put the rings on the chicks last night.