[RobertforKingfishers]

Dear Members
One of my Favourite Birds of Prey is the Peregrine and I hope
that they will be protected for future Generations both Birds as well as
Humans.

Can anyone help with Information as to sightings in Kent & Sussex

RobertforKingfishers

[deborah4]

Hi Robert

Welcome to BF.

Peregrine also up there among the 'greats' for me too. Have watched them for years in Sussex. A very easy sighting would be Chichester Cathedral ... there's usually an RSPB presence there once they start brooding. Pagham Harbour ... good place to see the Chi Peregrine hunting.

There are several breeding pairs along the coast between Brighton and Chichester, you may want to email the Sussex Peregrine Project who monitor them, they may be willing for you to have a supervised visit to some of the nesting areas/boxes

http://www.sussexperegrines.co.uk/index.htm

[pe'rigin]

Originally Posted by RobertforKingfishers

Can anyone help with Information as to sightings in Kent & Sussex

Both counties are very good for wintering Falcons.

As Deborah has already written we have a very good wintering population in the Chichester Harbour area. You are more likely to see more Peregrines that any other Bird of Prey from Pagham through to Langstone Harbour, into Hampshire from Fareham Creek to Titchfield Haven and beyond to Keyhaven.

If you are lucky enough to be able to sail around the Harbours, then you will see them sitting on the islands, boat masts, storage containers and posts. Which is an advantage because you may not be able to see them from the coastal paths.

[John Cantelo]

Peregrine can be seen relatively easily in Kent - esp in winter - at places like Sheppey (Harty Ferry Road) and at Dungeness. I frequently see them on the walks I take at Dungeness RSPB reserve. At the moment (though probably not for much longer) a single bird is wintering on Canterbury cathedral. Unfortunately, for obvious reasons, people a little cautious about revealing nesting sites in the region other than those that are a part of the RSPB's 'Aren't Birds Brilliant Campaign' (e.g. Chichester cathedral),

John

[Corax67]

I caught up with a Sheppey Peg a few weeks ago - impressive views of March Harrier & Rough Legged Buzzard too - highly recommended site (Corn Bunting was neat too)

[joannec]

As has already been said Kent and Sussex are both good for peregrines....Dungeness, Pett Level, Hastings which are closest to you. And if you have reason to go to Lewes, keep your eyes peeled as well!

[Mary]

Originally Posted by John Cantelo

Peregrine can be seen relatively easily in Kent - esp in winter - at places like Sheppey (Harty Ferry Road) and at Dungeness. I frequently see them on the walks I take at Dungeness RSPB reserve. At the moment (though probably not for much longer) a single bird is wintering on Canterbury cathedral. Unfortunately, for obvious reasons, people a little cautious about revealing nesting sites in the region other than those that are a part of the RSPB's 'Aren't Birds Brilliant Campaign' (e.g. Chichester cathedral),

John

Just a thought about peregrines and Cathedrals... is it likely that those youngsters that were hatched on a Cathedral tower will chose a similar position for their own nest sites, in favour of a natural cliff face? And if, eventually, most Cathedral sites are taken, will they take to ordinary church towers - would they be high enough? Any thoughts, please?

[ste-dee]

Hello Mary,i have been to see the derby peregrines on the cathedral and to be honest they are quite low,so i dont think this would be a problem.Mind you there are cameras at this site.

[deborah4]

Originally Posted by Mary

Just a thought about peregrines and Cathedrals... is it likely that those youngsters that were hatched on a Cathedral tower will chose a similar position for their own nest sites, in favour of a natural cliff face? And if, eventually, most Cathedral sites are taken, will they take to ordinary church towers - would they be high enough? Any thoughts, please?

Hi Mary

Couple of points: Peregrine are loyal to sites, so return from year to year, this may even be different pairs/offspring who will happily 'move in' on an existing site. Peregrine don't build nests, they don't even try, so they have adapted very well to our concrete jungles. That said, they are not particularly 'religious' in their choice, any high building/bridge/industrial construction, will do, provided it gives good aerial views and most importantly, where food is abundant (as pigeon/starling is in cities) (and is incidently more likely free of agricultural pesiticides). Therefore, if a Cathedral site is taken, there are often other man-made sites available that would be preferable to cliff sites. I believe they are also drawn to site areas with hunting grounds near to open water where birds are more easily spotted/targetted in aerial stoops. In Sussex, apart from Chichester and one other undisclosed 'religious' location, the main population enjoy using other man-made high structures, many of which now have the provision of nestboxes now which are monitored closely. The rest on 'natural' cliff sites. Population in Sussex was encouraged with the provision of nest boxes as the more traditional cliff sites were taken over by Fulmar when Peregrine populations declined as a result largely of pesticides. Peregrine populations, at least in Sussex, are only likely to be limited according to prey availability (ie. success of fledgling chicks) and fatal falls (at either natural or man-made sites) rather than lack of nesting sites.

[Mary]

Interesting points, deborah4, thanks. Looking at a nearby church this morning, I realised that there didn't seem to be any flat surfaces anyway, - all the ledges were on a slope! So maybe the architecture of quite a few will limit their use.

[lostfalcon]

Good post Deborah4 I learnt something else today, thank you

[Bill Payer]

I hope that this article from 'The Independent' of 19th March is of interest to members.

City lights turn peregrines into night hawks

Bill Payer

[deborah4]

Hi Bill

Thanks for posting article, (and no reflection on you of course) but it surprises me that a quality newspaper should be guilty of over sensationalising.

I find the tone and hyperbole of the presentation rather distasteful. Peregrine are still persecuted and still a protected species, to describe them in such emotive language as this, is irresponsible for all sorts of reasons:

''They carry out targeted killings on vulnerable victims and go on nocturnal rampages of violence and aggression. A new group of deadly predators has descended on Britain's towns and cities – but fear not, these urban clashes are taking place not on the streets but high in the air.''

They are hardly a 'new group' of predators, they have been occupying city spaces since the late '90's. The hunting method described isn't typical of Peregrine either - to suggest they are waiting in the shadows to pluck migrating rarities from the air as they pass like some sort of relay race where they are catching up with the baton doesn't ring as particularly true of their technique either and demonizes them to the public at large. Their staple diet in cities is pigeon/starling although they are opportunist hunters.

[tburke]

Are all peregrines in the UK of the same subspecies?

[deborah4]

Originally Posted by tburke

Are all peregrines in the UK of the same subspecies?

We just have the nominate Falco peregrinus peregrinus

[ANdy5551]

Pair of peregrines had been seen on an ols mill along the river Hull last year but they were still just too young to breed. This year they returned and looked set to nest but the mill they were on has just been demolished. When do they start nesting? Hope they were not in the process of breeding as the demolition company could be in for a few words!

[deborah4]

Originally Posted by ANdy5551

Pair of peregrines had been seen on an ols mill along the river Hull last year but they were still just too young to breed. This year they returned and looked set to nest but the mill they were on has just been demolished. When do they start nesting? Hope they were not in the process of breeding as the demolition company could be in for a few words!

Hi Andy

Depends exactly when the mill was demolished as to degree of disturbance.

Rough sequence of events:

Peregrine typically select 2-3 potential nesting sites within a given territory and move around them from year to year - in the absence of the luxury of a nest box, your pair (if actually breeding) may well have moved to other options (depending on timing of destruction)

Late Feb: Peregrine return - escort any other Peregrine from territory, then spend lots of time just perching on new chosen site
Late Feb-first week March - Courtship begins with lots of aerial display - male 'donates' food parcels to female
Mid March - Mating (several times a day to reinforce a lifetime bond)
NOTE: Female can choose when to lay her eggs delaying until a safe nest site is secured
3rd-4th week March Scrape prepared NOTE: no nest building so easy relocation if necessary - Courtship, mating and scrape preparation continues until female ready to lay her first egg
4th week March - 1st week April - providing there is no disturbance, female lays first egg, then a few days later, 2nd egg (with first breeding pairs it usually stops there, older pairs lay typically 3-4 eggs). Incubation begins only after all the eggs have been laid and lasts for 29-32 days (from date of last egg laid)

There could be variation with timeline depending on weather, location etc

Just re: first breeding pairs - a ''pair'' may attempt to breed for several years before actually doing so despite showing 'signs' they are already.

[ANdy5551]

Thanks Deborah4,

the Mill has gradually been pulled down by a large mechanical machine over the last two or three weeks. starting roughly at the end of February beginning of March.
This has been their preferred spot for the second spring running and perhaps I, and possibly others locally were hoping they were breeding, rather than actually knowing that they were.
Any way local bird recorder has confirmed sightings of them elsewhere in the city recently, myself included , today in fact when the male was seen atop another of the cities higher buildings. No sign of the female though? Here goes the hopes! I hope she is now selecting another nest site and that is why I can't see her.
The Yorkshire wildlife trust are apparently hoping to place some nest platforms on suitable buildings in the area to give them a choice of nest site and hopefully they will settle.

[deborah4]

Originally Posted by ANdy5551

Any way local bird recorder has confirmed sightings of them elsewhere in the city recently, myself included , today in fact when the male was seen atop another of the cities higher buildings. No sign of the female though? Here goes the hopes!

That's good news Andy - the timeline suggests all is not lost so hopefully the female is invisible because she's sitting on a scrape - keep monitoring!!

[boddie]

Saw a male Peregrine at South Stack on Angelsey, North Wales last weekend. It was really blowing a gale, I have never seen anything move so fat as when he turned and pelted off out to sea with the wind behind - awesome!

I notice that Cathedrals are a common place for peregrines to nest, have any ever nested in Liverpool at the Anglican? I imagine it would be a perfect spot.

[deborah4]

Originally Posted by boddie

I notice that Cathedrals are a common place for peregrines to nest, have any ever nested in Liverpool at the Anglican? I imagine it would be a perfect spot.

You may want to email Canon Anthony Hawley - he's a keen ornithologist so would know the wisdom of what to disclose and what not to! - He was involved in upgrading the grounds for wildlife last year (St James' Mount) around the Cathedral - they may even still need volunteers

http://www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk...Us/People.aspx

[roosje]

Hello,
I am a new member on this forum.
I am a big fan of Peregrines.
On the Dutch forum where I am also registred we watch besides the Dutch Peregrines also the Peregrines in Sussex and Derby with live cams. Also we have links to many more breading Peregrines all over the world. In the US, Polen, Canada, Australia, Italy, Germany.
In Germany, Oberhausen, three chicks have hadged from the egg.
If you are interested for the links let me know.

[deborah4]

Originally Posted by roosje

Hello,
In Germany, Oberhausen, three chicks have hadged from the egg.

Is that this year? That's about a month earlier than expected delivery of our Sussex ones! - links to other European webcams to compare with UK would be interesting from this perspective - what's the progress with Dutch peregrine?

(welcome to BF btw)

[roosje]

Hello Deborah4,

Yes that is this year see for yourself on the link.
http://www.bswr.de/Fauna/Wanderfalke/OB_live.htm

With the dutch Peregrines it is going outstanding and most nests have four eggs.
http://www.werkgroepslechtvalk.nl/cc...E-BEELDEN.html

[boddie]

Thanks Deborah