[Borahorza]

A couple of peregrines appear to have taken up residence on Derby cathedral. This makes sense to me as pigeons of course are two a penny in the city centre. However, I read on a local site that the remains of a Jay had been found at the site which takes the prey items up to 22! Twenty two prey items?! Now what I'm dying to know is:
What are the 22 species?
Why? When there are hundreds of pigeons all over the place.
Are peregrines so good at what they do that they can afford to be choosey?

[Stuhar]

Peregrines in Derby? Excellent news. They are opportunistic hunters. Pigeons are a good meal but not always an easy catch (healthy pigeons are good fliers). The male bird may take smaller prey items which the more powerful but less agile female would have trouble catching. 22 species is not a very large number compared with tallies recorded in other areas of Britain. Prey selection varies between habitats, and it's likely that a smaller number of species make up the majority of their diets, while the other species are infrequently predated.

[James Eaton]

Even Jack Snipe has been found as one of the prey items, how did they find that species, surely not during the day when they remain concealed?! They offer some superb views on the cathedral, even remaining there on a Saturday night with the bars and noise in full swing!

[mcapper]

If I remember rightly prey items have included waxwing, little grebe and (I think) ruddy duck.

I had a recent clear out of Derbyshire Ornithological Society Bulletins and I'm sure there was something in there. Always the way - you chuck it out and then immediately it would have come in useful!

Matthew

[danielcmartin]

I will get the list as Staff at the Cathedral have been collecting the "bits" and handing them to staff at Derby Museum. I ma aware of over 20 different species (including those already mentioned). At least 2 Jack Snipe have been collected, one Pintail and last week a Quail and Redwing!!

There is some discussion on local news groups regarding these birds hunting after dark (hence Jack Snipe and Woodcock kills). Anyone else had any experience of this?

I thought pigeon and Jackdaw would be the main prey species due to the numbers pesent in the town centre........

Regards
Daniel.

[Borahorza]

This is really interesting stuff! I'd only ever seen peregrines twice before they took up residence here. With luck maybe they'll breed.

[Stuhar]

I've seen one of the peregrines at the Tate in London fly down to Tower Bridge at sunset, looking very much like it was going hunting. I discovered it well after dark, perched like a gargoyle with a perfect view of anything crossing through the light above the bridge. I'm pretty sure it hadn't gone there just to roost. Urban areas have quite a lot of artifical lighting at night, which may make it easier for them to take birds that are still active after dark. I'm sure I've read somewhere about peregrines in New York City using the tall buildings to hunt migrants flying at night.

[charlierocky]

It makes you wonder if the Derby Peregrines are not offspring form the breeding pair I have been watching in Burton. In the three years that I have been watching they have successfully reared ten young, They have to go somewhere?
P.P The Peregrines were there before me so goodness knows how many young they have reared.

[James Eaton]

South Derbyshire area was done remarkably well for Peregrines they have taken full use of man made constructions. In the late 90's a pair raised several young from a constructed nest space in a cooling tower at Willing Power Station, which has since closed down, but the pair continue to linger with several excellent local feeding areas. However other pairs have taken up residence at other power stations in the region and now Cathedrals, excellent stuff!

[mcapper]

Saw this on another website:

"The peregrine prey list from Derby Cathedral is as follows:
Little grebe, Moorhen, Water rail, Common tern, Golden plover, Lapwing,
Redshank, Woodcock, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Dunlin, Ruddy duck, Tufted duck, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird, Song thrush, Starling, Waxwing, Jay, Feral/racing pigeon, Wood pigeon.
Nationally the list for urban sites runs to over 60 species.........with
some very rare species on it! "

That's 25 species on the list.

Matthew

[London Birder]

they like the odd Swift and escapee Psittacine too

[Borahorza]

Originally Posted by mcapper

Saw this on another website:

"The peregrine prey list from Derby Cathedral is as follows:
Little grebe, Moorhen, Water rail, Common tern, Golden plover, Lapwing,
Redshank, Woodcock, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Dunlin, Ruddy duck, Tufted duck, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird, Song thrush, Starling, Waxwing, Jay, Feral/racing pigeon, Wood pigeon.
Nationally the list for urban sites runs to over 60 species.........with
some very rare species on it! "


That's 25 species on the list.

Matthew

That's what I was after! And there's some pretty unusual birds there for Derby! Thanks a lot.

[mrpjdavis]

Apparently the relative lack of pigeons in the diet of "city" peregrines is quite typical - I seem to remember that nearly all the prey species of the Bath peregrines were waterbirds. Thinking about it, it makes sense - the peregrine needs a fair bit of space to use its stoop/chase tactic. City pigeons can easily stay close to the ground or buildings where they are pretty safe.
Pete

[PJP]

More than 90 species are on the list of recorded prey items from a handful of urban Peregrine sites around the country, including just about everything from Wren and Blue Tit to Black-necked Grebe, Little Bittern and Stone Curlew. The only even-vaguely-likely omissions, so far, would seem to be either partridge, Great Crested Grebe and Curlew.

Philip

[StevieEvans]

Originally Posted by mcapper

Little grebe, Moorhen, Water rail, Common tern, Golden plover, Lapwing,
Redshank, Woodcock, Snipe, Jack Snipe, Dunlin, Ruddy duck, Tufted duck, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Fieldfare, Redwing, Blackbird, Song thrush, Starling, Waxwing, Jay, Feral/racing pigeon, Wood pigeon.
Nationally the list for urban sites runs to over 60 species.........with
some very rare species on it! "
Matthew

.....

More than 90 species are on the list of recorded prey items from a handful of urban Peregrine sites around the country, including just about everything from Wren and Blue Tit to Black-necked Grebe, Little Bittern and Stone Curlew. The only even-vaguely-likely omissions, so far, would seem to be either partridge, Great Crested Grebe and Curlew.

Philip

Amazing range of items,
SE.