Friday 31 October 2014

This week's report

Actually, there's not much to report.

There are just a few feathers blowing around the churchyard so they are probably around. They haven't been on the nesting tray for the camera to capture them, and I haven't seen them from below either.

The camera did record this pied wagtail.


I don't remember seeing much peregrine activity on the Abbey tower in October or November last year.

Let's hope that over the next few weeks we start to see Christopher Robin and Alice more frequently, and I'll keep this page up to date as and when there is any news.

Thursday 23 October 2014

Tewkesbury Abbey Starlings

The camera hasn't recorded any peregrine activity for a while now, just starlings!


The peregrines are still around. I saw them both at the other end of the town near King John's Bridge this morning.

There are other places in Tewkesbury which might be of interest to CR and DX, either for finding food, or for roosting, including the abandoned Healings Mill site. Several windows are missing and the pigeons are inside.

This was the view of Healings Mill from the top of the tower during the floods on 13th February 2014.

Monday 13 October 2014

What's on the menu?

Over the last couple of years, I've been keeping half an eye out for what our peregrine(s) have been eating.


This has been a fairly common sight from the roof of the tower at some times of the year. The drainage chutes are used as a dinner table. This seems to be what's left of a pigeon.


Although pigeons seem to be the favourite bird on the menu, other things do seem to get eaten. This is the remains of a woodcock found on the tower roof on April 13th 2013. This indicates that that the peregrine was feeding at dusk or night with the help of artificial street lighting.

 This pigeon looks comfortable!

A portrait of Alice

This great picture of Alice was taken by Jon Watson on 17th June 2012 shortly after she fledged in the Avon Gorge.


I checked to see what the camera had captured yesterday evening, but once again, only a starling was recorded!


Friday 10 October 2014

An obliging starling

I've sorted out the video recorder today greatly improving the picture quality.


A starling was on hand to test it out!

After the helpful starling had gone, the gravel was replenished. It will be interesting to see whether Alice or Christopher Robin try to throw it overboard again.

I saw Alice yesterday (9th Oct) morning sitting on her usual ledge. Christopher Robin wasn't to be seen - perhaps he was out getting some breakfast.

Saturday 4 October 2014

Three birds

We've not seen them for several days, but they were back this afternoon!

This picture was taken by Sheila Hughes

Two peregrines and a weather cock!

Friday 3 October 2014

A picture of Alice

The camera behind the nesting tray hasn't recorded peregrine activity for several days, nor have I seen anything from down below. I wonder if they have more than one place to roost in the area?

The camera did catch this grey wagtail last weekend.

(I'm going to improve the quality of the pictures soon.)

Dave Pearce has forwarded (via Steve Watson) this photo taken by Chris Jones of Bristol taken on June 13th 2012. It shows Alice (aka DX) on the day she fledged.


Have a look at Chris' twitter feed here for some more great peregrine photos.

Wednesday 1 October 2014

Peregrine falcons in our towns and cities - BBC website

There's an interesting article on the BBC website.

Have a look at this page about urban peregrines.