further info on the Swedish-ringed peregrine

Some feedback so far on the young peregrine found in Somerset. It was ringed as a nestling female on the 8th June 2009 at Arvika, Varmland, southern Sweden. She was one of four at the nest. I wonder how many other peregrines here this winter are actually from Scandinavia!!

Swedish-registered ring (you can just make out the name Stockholm as part of the return address) placed on the bird's leg in June this year.Rupert Griffiths, RSPCA, Westhatch

Colour-ringed Peregrine from Sweden

Yesterday was a rather chilly day here in Bristol but a nice feeling as winter approches. Heard today from the RSPCA that a peregrine brought in over the weekend was wearing rings that showed it had flown here all the way from Sweden!! Remarkable!! The Swedes have a detailed colour-ringing programme so we should be able to find out lots about this young bird which was ringed as a chick this year. Sadly it had an infected broken leg and had to be put to sleep. However, I like to think that despite this it has still contributed to science and that its flight here hasn't been in vain!

peregrine leaflet about Avon Gorge peregrines

Ed Drewitt and Mandy Leivers (Avon Gorge and Down Wildlife Project) have just produced a new colour leaflet all about the peregrine livings in the Avon Gorge:

http://boc-bristol.org.uk

Bath peregrine chick fledges

On Thursday 11th June the peregrine chick in Bath fledged. However, being large and heavy she didn't get very far. She is now resting on a nearby building in earshot of her parents and will hopefully be flying properly very soon.

When peregrine chicks first fledge they are often heavier than their parents. The extra weight enables the young birds to continue growing while exploring the world around them. During this period they may not get fed less often than when they were in their nest as their parents encourage them to begin feeding by themselves - often they will bring in prey that is still alive. They will release the prey close to the chicks to encourage them to catch and kill it themselves. Gradually over time they will perfect the art of hunting and become independent.

Peregrine chick ringed in Avon Gorge

In mid-May, we ringed one peregrine chick was in the Avon Gorge, Bristol. It has a blue colour ring with black letters AX. Like many peregrine families this year only one chick has survived. Two chicks were in the nest on an earlier visit a week earlier. The windy weather and perhaps a reduced food supply may have contributed to just the one chick surviving.

Photos: Hannah Rose

Bath's 2009 chick colour-ringed

Young female peregrine, AP. Both images © Ian Sparrowhawk, May 2009

In late March 2009, the pair of peregrines in Bath laid 4 eggs. Two hatched at the end of April and one survived. Recently, myself and Adrian George, British Trust for Ornithology, colour-ringed the remaining young chick.

The ringing was filmed by the BBC and featured on BBC Points West, the local news for the West of England. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8063000/8063538.stm

The young bird was a female. Despite being just under three weeks old she was a big bird - without any siblings she has had all the food brought in by her parents to herself. She was given a unique metal ring on her right leg and a blue colour ring with black letters AP on her right leg.

The chick's dad is actually the bird's half brother. The dad is an individual we colour-ringed as a baby in 2007 at the same nest site. His ring combination is AA. After the disappearance of his dad in 2008 we he appears to have paired up with his mum, the breeding female. This inbreeding is not unusual in the bird world and shouldn't be detrimental to the health of the chick.

With thanks to the staff of St John's Church and volunteers from the Hawk and Owl Trust, particularly Colin Morris, Mike Rogers, Louise Hazelton, and Andy Grant.

Eggs are laid at Bath

Despite last years adult male not being seen for some months now, a pair are present at the nest box. A camera which is placed inside the box (not linked to the internet, but we are looking into this) is allowing us to check on the progress of the pair. A check on the pair on the 17th March resulted in the finding of 3 eggs. This pair have been laying 4 eggs over the recent years so it is hoped that a 4th egg was laid yesterday or this morning. The egg laying date is earlier than the last few years.

Bath Peregrine winter 2008/2009 update

The adult female, AA and AC (photos below) are still present at on the Church. AD went missing soon after fledging although she was recently photographed at the Church (photo below). There still seems to be no adult male present and the likelihood of breeding this year seems to be slim, fingers crossed though.

Ed Drewitt has continued to identify the prey remains from the Bath peregrines. This winter has seen the usual of array of species taken, which included little grebe, woodcock, jack snipe, snipe, golden plover, water rail, teal and redwing. The remains of a redshank were found towards the end of 2008 and represents the first documented redshank taken at this site.

AD in flight © Mark Fisher 2008

AA on lookout © Mark Fisher 2008