Chichester Peregrine Blog

Wow, our kids are getting very strong now.  They were flying around for long periods of time today, instead of just the short bursts of activity previously.  They kept chasing each other and grappling in mid-air, making a lot of noise!  A couple of times I saw two (our boy with one of his sisters, presumably his best friend, number 37) – they were flying very fast and heading out of sight, first eastwards over the town, then later southwards.  Soon after heading south, Dad left his perch and had to chase them to make sure they didn’t get into trouble.  He managed to bring them back and got caught up in their aerial antics before they all stopped for a rest.  Breathtaking action!

There are still long periods of quiet while the juveniles have a rest.  When they do get up and move around though, boy are they entertaining!

A couple of times today we saw them flying around, grappling with each other.  I saw dad zoom off southwards with two juveniles trying to catch him.  Their flying is getting much stronger and more confident – catching dad is perhaps a little ambitious though!  Landing is still proving a bit of a problem at times, taking a few attempts.  They’ll soon get the hang of it.  They’re tending to land in places that the adults never go, such as the top of the bell tower.  We saw a couple of them pottering about up there, picking around at whatever they could find, exploring their surroundings.  Every now and then we’d see a startled pigeon or a small flock rush off for shelter, having unexpectedly encountered a juvenile peregrine.

At this stage our youngsters seem to have a short attention span, having a brief fascination with whatever’s close by, then moving on to the next thing.  Rather like small children, figuring out how their world works.

Towards the end of a very quiet day, we finally had a bit of activity with the juveniles flying around with both adults.  There were two or three in the air at a time, while the others were resting.  Two of them were grappling in mid-air, trying to catch each other.  It’s hunting training getting underway.

It was a bit damp this afternoon.  Then there was torrential rain, turning the gutter pipe on the cathedral into a fountain.  Shortly afterwards, it turned into a sharp hail storm.  Now, we all sensibly sheltered in the marquee and cloisters.  You’d imagine that the peregrines would have all found shelter in the nest box or other locations in their home.  No.  Dad was sitting in the castellations on a turret so didn’t get the full brunt of the weather.  He did look rather cross though!  Meanwhile, one of the girls, number 36, sat on top of the turret closest to the wind and driving rain/hail, facing into it (well, at least she got that right, so it wasn’t blowing under her feathers!).  She looked a little worried, and tried holding her wings out and shaking them, as if trying to dry them.  Easier to do if it’s not actually raining!  Poor girl looked as though she’d been swimming by the end of it, and took a long time to dry off, preening in the intermittent sunshine.

At last, yesterday afternoon our last female juvenile fledged!  Now all four are flying around the cathedral, perching in obscure places, watching the pigeons intently (even occasionally flying after them, although they wouldn’t know what to do if they caught up with them at this stage!), and generally giving their parents a tough job trying to keep track of them all!

This evening we were standing in the cold drizzle, and for a good hour or so, we just saw two or three perched while the others were out of sight, inside turrets or the balcony.  We were rewarded for our patience by an amazing view of all six peregrines together.  Some were perched, and some flying, all visible at the same time.  It was extraordinary, and very special!

Dad flew west at one point, closely followed by the male juvenile.  When dad got about 20 yards beyond the cathedral, our boy obviously decided it was too scary and more of a challenge than he was ready for – he halted fairly abruptly and returned to the safety of his home.  Dad realised he’d lost his companion and returned too, keeping a close eye on his charge.

One of the females dislodged dad from his perch, presumably wanting him to get some dinner.  Shortly afterwards, mum did the same, knocking him off his new perch.  He didn’t take the hint, he just found a third place to sit, trying in vain to get some peace.  Mum gave up on him and went out hunting herself, returning after a few minutes with a pigeon, to the obvious vocal delight of the whole family.

Earlier today, three of the juveniles were out flying, two were chasing each other, and the parents.  It’s all part of their hunting training, being able to follow another bird in flight.

Our boy is showing great hunting instincts.  He was sitting on top of the green roof of the cathedral, watching a pigeon perched below him at the bottom of the roof.  He was looking at it quizzically, obviously aware that it was a good opportunity and he should do something, but not quite sure how to go about it.  Eventually he flew down towards it, but alas, the pigeon had enough sense to scarper.

As far as we’re aware, the third female, number 34, hasn’t yet flown.  Of course, we’re only there from 10.00-5.00 most days, so she may have emerged early morning or late afternoon while there was nobody about.  Perhaps she’s just shy…

Couldn’t resist this on such a special day!!!

Again today both 35 (the male) and his sister 37 were out.  They flew confidently and found unusual perches below the level of the balcony.  Our boy was sitting on his perch looking very confident.  He slept briefly sitting up, the way the adults do.  Then he sat with one eye open, then closed it and opened the other eye, basically being a bit comical.  His sister found another unusual perch sitting behind one of the lower turrets, and disappeared for a while into an alcove, hiding away from everyone.  Obviously she’d had enough of being in the limelight after having Springwatch filming yesterday!

Meanwhile, the other two girls still haven’t left the turret.  They were, however, both sitting on top of the box flapping their wings for a while.  That’s the first time we haven’t had a juvenile on the nest or turret floor.  They’re getting closer.  Both were looking slightly anxious, obviously still plucking up the courage to go.

Towards the end of the afternoon the male rejoined his other two sisters in the nest where they all cuddled up for a snooze.

Our boy, number 35, finally took the plunge and flew this afternoon.  Daniel, our youngest volunteer, was lucky enough to be watching him through the telescope as he took off.  I was on my way back to the cathedral after a lunchbreak, and saw him land high on the top tracing of the spire, where dad normally sits.  I assumed it was dad that I was watching, until I went in and was told otherwise.  It didn’t occur to me that one of our youngsters would fly all the way up and land on a tricky perch like that on their first flight.  How brave!  He’d flown around the spire a couple of times and took a few attempts before successfully landing.  He sat there for well over an hour, turning around occasionally, and almost falling off – he was funny, trying to get a grip on the small perch.  When he took off again, he flew very well, flapping his wings a lot more than the adults do, but he did us proud.  He then tried to land on a few more difficult spots and gave up, going back onto the top tracing.

In the evening we got a wonderful picture of him sitting with one of his sisters, number 37, on top of the turret.  The sun came out for this special moment!  She’s the same one who was with him in the earlier post, “Coming on in leaps and bounds”.  The other two girls have yet to leave the turret.  They’re looking quite anxious and keen to get going though, so fingers crossed for this weekend!

Gordon Buchanan and his team from Springwatch were here today, enjoying finding out about our famous peregrine family.  The film they took is due to be shown on Monday’s show.

A couple of times today we had two juveniles on top of the turret, still mostly hopping from one stone to the next, or hanging on tightly and exercising their wings.  However, around 5.20 this evening, one of them was letting go and lifting off a few inches.  Didn’t go anywhere, but I expect he (or she) will be moving onto the balcony or other turrets tomorrow.

We’re also expecting Springwatch to come and see us tomorrow, so hopefully our youngsters will put on a good show for them!