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

Bath Peregrine update

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

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)

© Photo by Ian Sparrowhawk

Female with darvic ring

© Photo by Ian Sparrowhawk

Ed taking the total head measurement of the female.

© Photo by Ian Sparrowhawk

Spring Update

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.

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.