Chichester Peregrine Blog

Around 11.30 this morning he started making a terrific sqwauking and looking skyward.  Plently of angry posing and lots of angry noise until we saw the reason – another peregrine!!!  As it got close he took off after it like a Bat out of Hell and chased it off  in a southeasterly direction with some very fancy flying.  He returned about 15 mins later (having chased the intruder a very long way off – it could have been one of last years’ juveniles) made several passes around the spire and of course in front of the missus (showing off I suspect – no reaction from her though!!) and disappeared up to his favourite spot on the north side of the spire.

After disappearing in a northerly direction for 10 minutes, dad returned at 13.25 with lunch.  It’s a sad fact that peregrines are not vegetarians – they eat other birds (I don’t like that much either, but there you have it – nature in action!).  He brought it in and landed on a perch next to his missus on the east blind-window, and proceeded to pluck it.  From the moment she saw him returning with prey, she started squawking very loudly (back to her normal volume!) and continued while he was trying to concentrate on preparing the meal.  He got tired of this and moved to another perch on the other side of the blind-window.  Not a great move – he was still only about 2 feet away from her, and within plain sight.  She was quiet for a moment (presumably while she wondered what on earth he hoped to achieve by moving such a short distance away), then squawked again.  A short time later, he went to perch on the north side, out of her sight, and thought better of it, returning to his original perch right next to her.  She hopped up and stole the prey from him, taking it to the top pinnacle, while he flew off, eventually landing on his favourite spot high on the spire with nothing.

She sat plucking and eating her meal for the next half-hour, afterwards still looking hungry.  Making babies obviously takes a lot of energy!

Early this afternoon a sparrowhawk lazily circled around the north side of the cathedral for a minute or so.  Surprisingly, both peregrines sat quietly on their perches, neither batting an eyelid at the arrival of their visitor.

I arrived a little earlier today, at 4.45 I was just in time to see mum leave the nest to sit on a pinnacle, and dad go into the turret.  After a couple of minutes, he flew out, round in a circle, and landed on her – just like yesterday!  He sat on the NE turret looking very proud of himself (as well he might – I think he’s forgotten how much nagging he’ll get over the next few months if he’s successful though!).

An hour later, strike three!  He was a bit restless for a while, changing perches while she called softly to him (yes, she can talk quietly!).  Then, just before the sun went down, he was at it again.  Three times in two days (possibly four times – I might have missed one!).

I imagine this means the eggs will hatch within a couple of days of each other, like last year.

After sitting quiety and enjoying the sunset for a while, our man popped into the nest turret, closely watched by the missus.  She went to join him, sitting on top of the turret while they had a quiet chat.  Shortly afterwards, she returned to her perch on the south central pinnacle.  A few minutes later, he emerged from the turret, flew around in a wide circle, and landed on top of her.  Evidently he’d decided that the nest has been empty for long enough!

 This is a week or so earlier than seen in previous years…

Our chap is doing his bit to win over his lady.  On Monday evening, he was seen bringing a large portion of food in to her while she waited in the nest turrett.  After a brief squabble, she flew to a pinnacle to eat in peace, generously leaving him with a small morsel to snack on.

With a nice clean nestbox the pair are definitely getting ready for a new family!!

The male is already being ‘henpecked’ and the female a lot more vocal.

This is a female from the family who fledged in 2002

She was seen in december 2008

She was looking very fit and well and now has

her own partner. We will keep an eye on her as the season progresses .