Playing with sticks

Bella dealing with the sticks left by the pigeons!

Who blinks first...

Bella has been in a staring competition with a pigeon!

The brave pigeon was on the nesting tray with Bella for nearly 3 minutes in total, before deciding to fly upwards and away from danger.

This footage was taken from camera 2, which isn't very well positioned with most of the scene being obscured by the louvres. There is also no audio.

Both Bella and CR are often to be seen on the Abbey tower, mostly at first light, and occasionally in the evening at dusk as well. If they are both there, then they call to each other continually, so they are quite easy to spot.

Bella loses a feather!

Bella manages to lose a flight feather on landing!

Wake up Bella

Bella was having a nap, when CR popped in for a chat!

Noisy birds

An evening conversation!

Bella always puffs herself up to make her look larger, whilst CR always cowers in the corner.

Sleepy Bella

Both peregrines are regularly seen by the camera at the moment, however this is usually just before sunrise and sometimes later in the evenings.

Quite often, Bella lies down and dozes for ages....

Quite a bit more activity

The two peregrines have been seen more often by the camera recently. Bella in particular is regularly seen.

Here she is making herself comfortable...

Living dangerously

In case you were wondering what's going on, on the right is Bella, and on the left a very foolhardy pigeon!

Aerobatics

I was on top of the Abbey tower this afternoon watching Bella and CR performing some amazing flying tricks.

Unfortunately, I only had my phone to record the display, so apologies for the quality.

First is Bella flying from right to left, then CR dive bombed from above!

Same as last year

It looks like Bella and Christopher Robin are behaving in pretty much the same way as last year.

After some early activity, a quiet period meant that when they finally got together, they were too late to breed.

The camera saw them both for the first time in months the other day...

Nothing to report

I am wondering if the last video published on 17th March is significant.

Since Bella chased CR away, no peregrine activity has been seen by the camera. I think the chances of any seeing breeding this year have gone.

I have seen one roosting on the tower, and by its size I think it is Bella.

The peregrines could be around though - it's just that the camera hasn't seen them...

Rather too quiet...

There have been no further sightings of peregrines on the camera monitoring activity on the nesting tray. The female is often to be seen on the tower, but she seems to be on her own.

On the top of the tower in the lead chutes that are used as a "dining table", there are often some prey remains, and last Sunday morning there was one carcass which I think was a common gull.

What was I doing on the top of the tower?

Untangling the flag!

Get off my tray!

Camera 2 caught this early morning action the other day.

It looks like CR landed on the nesting tray, only for Bella to send him away....

This may well be because she is letting him know that it is her territory!

Getting to know each other again.

CR and Bella have been renewing their friendship again!

CR usually sits right on the edge of the tray, leaving Bella to occupy the rest of the nesting area.

Camera 3 gives a closer view of CR (there is no sound on this video clip).

Looking promising

For the first time since December, the camera has captured a peregrine. Not one, but two!

CR is on the right, and the female (probably Bella) is on the left with her back to the camera.

I took this snap shot of the screen of the recorder with my phone, but unfortunately I then accidentally deleted the video footage!

One bird short of a pair?

The female is around most of the time, but I've not seen a male for ages.

Neither has the video camera.

I was hoping to have better news by now....

Watching and waiting

The female sitting on the tower today.

No sign of a male....

Some activity

The female (Bella?) was on the tower today...

 ...making lots of noise and occasionally flying off to return a few seconds later.

I did briefly see the male (CR?) fly past, which made her squawk even louder. 

A waiting game...

Nothing happening yet, although one bird was roosting on the tower tonight.

Can't be long now....?

and a Happy New Year

The Black Redstart has been around a bit, being seen by the camera on new year's eve, new year's day and on 3rd January.

One peregrine is often to be seen on the tower, probably CR.

Happy Christmas!

This is the view that Christopher Robin would have had on December 19th 2010. This was his first winter and was also the first time that prey remains were noticed on the tower roof. He was joined firstly by DX (aka Alice) and when she disappeared, by the unringed Bella. Lets hope that they can successfully breed in 2017. 

A Happy Christmas from Tewkesbury Abbey!

Another black redstart

We've also been visited by a female BLACK REDSTART,

This is another rare bird, but not a long distant visitor like its Eastern relative.

A pair!

With all the attention surrounding the Eastern Black Redstart, there have been lots of people watching the tower recently.

This has confirmed that there are definitely two peregrines around which is a very good sign for the 2017 season.

The camera has also seen both birds together on the nesting tray :-

Fingers crossed!

Eastern Black Redstart

We have had a visit from a EASTERN BLACK REDSTART.

From birding expert Mike King (Gloster Birder) :-

"This Black Redstart has been re-identified today as Eastern Black Redstart. EBR is a subspecies of Black Redstart. Eastern Black Redstart is a long distance migrant from its central Asian breeding grounds to wintering areas in central India west to northeast Africa. This is the first record for Gloucestershire."

Notes for birders :-
- The best place to see it is apparently from the south/east side, either in the churchyard or the field between the Abbey and the River Swilgate.
- There are plenty of places to park nearby. Gander Lane car park is closest.
- The Abbey's "Touching Souls Tea Room" is open until 1.30pm for refreshments. There are various other places for refreshments in the immediate area.

Good Luck!

The quiet season

Apart from brief visits from two different types of wagtail (pied and grey) the other day, the camera hasn't seen any activity at all for weeks.

It was nice to see a peregrine on the tower this morning. I think this is Christopher Robin by its size.