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Ed Drewitt

Peregrine Travels

Article from Ed Drewitt blog - http://eddrewitt.blogspot.com/

Young Peregrine travels from Avon Gorge to the West Midlands

I've been colour-ringing peregrine chicks since 2007 with the help of fellow BTO ringer Ade George, and volunteer climbers from the British Mountaineering Council. In each year I have been building up the number of nest sites we visit to maximise how many chicks we ring. With bird ringing (or banding) it is a numbers game - the more birds you ring, the more likely someone will spot one of 'your' birds and report it. With colour-ringed birds this likelihood increases hugely - while only perhaps 2% of birds with just metal ID rings may be resighted, up to 98% of birds colour-ringed may be recovered.

BX - one of five chicks ringed in the Avon Gorge in 2010. Photo by Ed Drewitt.

With my peregrine work the results can be a little delayed. In the first first few years a peregrine's life is very nomadic as it travels around getting to know the region and no doubt look for a mate. So it's not until a peregrine begins to settle at a nest site at two or three years old that it may be seen and identified by birders.


Of my peregrines that have been re-sighted so far, most have been quite close to Bath and Bristol, near where we ringed them. For example, one was seen with a female partner 15km south of Bristol from where it was ringed two years later; another is now the breeding male at a nest in Bath where it hatched; and a third individual was re-seen later in the autumn at the site where it was ringed and had fledged earlier that year.


Our furthest travelled bird however goes to the following individual. One of the young peregrines we ringed in the Avon Gorge in 2010 was also filmed for the BBC's Springwatch.
He was given a blue colour-ring with black letters, BT (his sibling BX is in the photo above)


He was spotted and photographed by Michael Colquhoun in the Malvern Hills, Worcestershire back in April 2011. This was exciting news and it was great to know one of the chicks had ventured so far. 

BT in April, 2011 - now is partial adult plumage in the Malvern Hills. Photo by Michael Colquhoun

BT's colour ring clearly visible. Photo by Michael Colquhoun.

However, I then had sad news in October 2011 that a peregrine with one of my colour-rings had been found dead by a dog walker not far from KIdderminster in the West Midlands. After exchanging e-mails with local birder Jason Kernohan who met the dog walker and recovered the dead bird, I discovered it was the same colour-ringed individual, BT. 




He had been dead for four days before being found (as indicated by the development of moaggots). He was taken to a vet by the police for an x-ray to confirm he hadn't been shot. He had been found below power lines and seems likely he had died from some interaction with these. 

BT's colour ring. Photo by Jason Kernohan

BT's metal BTO ring. Photo by Jason Kernohan.

Despite this young bird's death I'm pleased we know his final outcome and where he travelled. It helps build up a bigger picture of what peregrines do when they fledge. It's interesting that we've not heard from the other four chicks that were in that same family. Yet we have heard from this individual twice! Hopefully as the other four (assuming they are all alive) begin breeding they will be spotted and identified by myself or someone else watching them. 

Bath breeding season update

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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!