Chichester Peregrine Blog

As of today the webcam is live. The sound works along with the infrared. No peregrine in the screenshot below but it shows that you can view the webcam on you phone and other portable devices unlike previous years.

All is well

A quick visit to the nest – a bit of tidying and moving of stones.  All set for eggs!

After a confusing several weeks when a number of males were seen around and mating with the female, we have done some research only to find that in fact the male and female are new birds.  It would of course be unusual to say the least if it was the same female that back in 2001 had the first ringed brood.  She would have to be about 17 years old by now if that were the case (which is very unlikely in the wild).  It is likely that the female changed a couple of years ago and we did not notice.

Anyway we are fairly sure she will stay with the current male for this season as she seems quite settled and is enjoying his company – not surprised – he is a very smart peregrine.

News on the camera – we hope it will go live by the end of this week – there has been a bit of a holdup in updating it.

This morning loads of activity at the Cathedral with both birds flying cleaning the nest site and mating. Only two Peregrines this morning but the Sparrow hawk has put in several  appearances

Mating at the Cathedral this AM

We have reliable information that yesterday there were 4 peregrines around the Cathedral yet again!  3 males after the female.  She was also to be found sitting in some unusual places on the tower perhaps to avoid mating with any of the boys!!  Perhaps she hasn’t found her true love yet!

News this morning that eggs are being laid at Norwich Cathedral indicates that it is time for our pair to sort themselves out.  It would be great to have the camera on now but as yet no news from the RSPB as to when it might be switched on – let’s hope it is soon.

Sunday dawned wall to wall sunshine and stayed that way.  We couldn’t stay all day but were we given a show the time we were there!!

Intruders -Yes.  One Male stayed around and from the noises our female was making we would say this was not her male!!  However he perched on the lighting conductor on top of the main spire to survey the territory and chased off anything that came near.  Mum was clearly impressed as she presented herself for mating.  Obviously feeling very pleased with himself he settled on the lightning conductor again  and then repeated the mating!  So it looks like we might have a different male – he’s not ringed so can’t say for sure but his behaviour is very different.

A very vigilant male

Our female was clearly pleased with him as they mated for the second time!

After a relatively quiet morning we had 4 peregrines in the sky at once. Our poor Mum and Dad didn’t know which way to turn.  As we left about 4.00pm Mum was on the spire and Dad had chased one intruder off to the west while the other made a quick exit east. He returned to sit on the lighting conductor just underneath the weather cock on top of the spire.  I guess he was able to see all his territory from there.

It’s another beautiful day so we will continue to watch.

Mum doing the cleaning

Another glorious day at the Cathedral and all appears to be well.

What are you doing down there!

Before the mist came tonight we took this beautiful picture of Mum above the nest turret.

Just to let you all know there is a lot of peregrine merchandise in the Cathedral Shop including the all NEW awesome 3D postcard and transfer for your windows. Photos were taken by David Shaw

We have it on good authority that there were 3 male peregrines in the air around the cathedral a couple of days ago – could this mean we have a new male again.  Unfortunately it is really difficult to say as their markings are very similar so unless we get one that is ringed (and the proportion of ringed to unringed is getting smaller each year) we cannot say for sure.  One thing is for sure they are not last year’s young because we had 3 girls!!!  No pictures -sorry.