South West Peregrine Study Group

Bath breeding season update

2010-05-11T03:25:00.001-07:00

It was thought that the peregrines at Bath had starting incubating a week earlier than usual, however this was hard to confirm as the female was sitting very tight. After what we thought was 40 days of incubation, the eggs had failed to hatch. Needless to say we were disappointed as we have been hoping for a full house of chicks as they had back in their first breeding attempt back in 2007 of 4 fledglings.

However it turned out we had got our laying date incorrect and one chick was seen on 2nd May. By the 8th we had four chicks! This was a very welcome surprise and we now have our fingers crossed that all four survive. The adult male 'AA' will have his work cut out to feed four hungry mouths this summer.

As with last year, the BBC are planning to film the ringing of the chicks towards the end of the month.

Thanks to Colin for his continued effort in monitoring the peregrines at Bath.

Colour-ringed peregrine at Blagdon Lake

2010-04-14T05:36:00.000-07:00

We've just found out that one of our colour-ringed peregrines was spotted and photographed with another peregrine at Blagdon Lake, Bath and North-east Somset on Sunday 11th April. Will bring some further details once we've checked which individual it was. For now here's a link to the Blagdon birds website, http://www.blagdonlakebirds.com/ showing a photo of the bird.

Following just after, a sattelite-tracked osprey was also found to be at Blagdon, www.roydennis.org

Mediterranean Gull as Peregrine prey

2010-04-12T11:41:00.000-07:00

This Mediterranean Gull was found near the Severn Estuary where Peregrines use nearby industrial buildings.

The corpse showed evidence that can be attributed to a Peregrine kill - no doubt the dead bird then got blown or dropped on to the ground and into the bushes where it was found. Definitely an unusual prey species in the UK but probably more common in parts of souther England and mainland Europe where Med Gulls are found in greater numbers. On the Severn Estuary Med Gulls are found just when passing though on migration. This was an adult in summer plumage.

Peregrine breeding season 2010

2010-04-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of the year and across the UK peregrines are busily nesting. Many are now incubating eggs while others are still courting and getting ready to lay.

Over the course of the next month Adrian and I will be busy getting ready for the next season of colour ringing chicks from mid-May in the Bristol and Somerset region. Finger's crossed that it is a good breeding season for the Peregrine this year and we get to colour ring many chicks.

Proof of peregrines hunting at night

2010-01-11T12:52:00.000-08:00

The evidence at last - 100% proof to support Ed's work on on the diet of peregrines, in particular that they hunt birds such as woodcock at night:

Friends Nick Brown and Nick Moyes of the Derby Cathedral Peregrine Project have captured this amazing footage of a peregrine bringing back a live woodcock back to the cathedral at night. More more details available at their blog:
http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/

further info on the Swedish-ringed peregrine

2009-11-23T08:52:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-23T08:51:00.000-08:00

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

2009-06-12T22:40:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-12T22:33:00.001-07:00

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

2009-06-12T22:27:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-19T01:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-01-31T12:18:00.000-08:00

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

Bath Peregrine update

2008-08-13T10:35:00.000-07:00

The adult female and the immature female from last years brood (darvic ring AA) are still feeding this years male (darvic ring AC). Unfortunately this years female (darvic ring AD)disappeared around the time of fledging. Her first flight may not have gone well and ended up grounded and she was never found. The adult male also seems to have vanished and has not been seen for a few months.

The male (AC) seems to be doing well and chasing the females for food.

Peregrine ringing

2008-06-01T03:30:00.000-07:00

On the 26th, the Hawk and Owl trust joined Ed Drewitt and myself to ring this years chicks. It was believed that there was only one chick from the three eggs that were layed. When the monitor was connected to the camera two chicks and one addled egg could be seen. This was a great surprise to us all.

I went up to collect the chicks from the box and came face to face with the female. I have never come so close to a wild adult before, truely amazing.

The chicks this year were believed to be about 17 days old on the day of ringing, four days younger than last year and the size difference was very noticable. There was one male and a female in this years brood. The female weighed 535 grams compared to the male at only 380. Adult females can be a third larger than the males. The male was fitted with a BTO metal ring number GC46003 and darvic ring AC. The female with GC46004 and AD.

The most surprising behaviour occurred whilst the chicks were being ringed as one of last years chicks is now hunting and feeding this years chicks. Therefore this years adults must be the same as last year to allow her to stay in their territory and to get so close to the chicks. This behaviour has been noted in other species such as Long-tailed Tits although personally I have not heard of this with Peregrines. The immature female is not sexually mature to breed this year but this will allow her to gain the knowledge to raise her own brood in the future. We wait with interest to see when she decides to leave to find her own territory and mate.

Male (left ) Female (right)

Female with darvic ring

Ed taking the total head measurement of the female.

Spring Update

2008-05-08T15:08:00.000-07:00

The immature bird that has been seen on the Church over this winter has been confirmed to be that of "AA" chick from 2007. The bird still remains at the site.

The camera fixed on the nest box was checked earlier this week. It seems that there is only one egg in the scrape. It is not known what has happened to the other two eggs but it is hoped that they have hatched and the chicks are out of view of the camera.

Watch this space for further updates.

2008-04-08T01:14:00.000-07:00

Over the past few weeks the peregrines in Bath have been seen mating. We haven't had any confirmation yet but it is likely they have laid eggs. We hope to know soon. The eggs should hatch around the beginning of May.

2008-03-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

The peregrines in Bath should be about to lay eggs now. The pair in Brighton have already laid their clutch but others across the country still haven't.

The young bird from last year is still hanging around - it was seen bringing in a pigeon the other day. It looks like it is a young female. If you manage to read the letters on its colour leg ring please let me know what they are!

Spring is almost here!

2008-03-06T00:33:00.000-08:00

Female Peregrine feeding on a Collared Dove, Bath. Simon Mackie Feb 08

As we edge closer to spring, the Peregrines in Bath will be laying eggs towards the end of the month.

The pair in Bath are frequently near or on the nest box and may be seen calling to each other or mating.

For live footage of the Derby Peregrines check out www.derby.gov.uk/peregrines

Bath Peregrines in winter 2007/08

2008-01-09T08:34:00.001-08:00

During autumn 2007 and winter 2008, the pair of Peregrines at St John's Church, Bath have been using the church and nearby buildings daily. One of the young birds that fledged earlier last year has also been using the site.

During the autumn the falcons have been feeding on many different types of birds. Highlights have included a Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus, a Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis, a Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur and at least three Bramblings Fringilla montifringilla. The Manx Shearwater, a young bird only recently fledged from its nest, was far inland from the nearest breeding colony on Lundy Island in the Severn Channel. This was probably a disorientated individual.

The Bath Peregrines will hopefully breed for a third year running in 2008. During late January and throughout February the pair will begin displaying. This will include spectacular flight displays over the city and lots of calling to each other. The young bird from last year may also stay around and help with feeding the chicks. See if you can spot the colour ring (blue with black letters) on its leg.

Left to right: Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus feathers and leg; Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis primary wing feather; Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur wing feathers.

Bath Peregrine ringing

2007-09-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

Ed Drewitt with one of the chicks after ringing

2007-09-17T03:06:00.000-07:00

Peregrines have been inhabiting the city of Bath for a number of years now. A nest box was constructed on placed on St. Johns by the Hawk and Owl Trust (www.hawkandowl.org/) in 2004. It took until 2006 for the female to lay the first clutch in the box. They were very successful and fledged four young. Both adults remained around the church over the winter and again nested in 2007. This year the female laid three eggs although only two hatched, the first being on the 1st May. Both hatchlings were ringed on the 21st May. As well as the stardard BTO ring (see http://www.bto.org/ringing/ringinfo/index.htm for more information), a light blue colour ring with two black letters was placed on the other leg. The letters used this year were "AA" and "AB". Both birds fledged successfully on the 12th June.