5 May – the female flies in at 5:25 and goes into the box when the male arrives at 5:45. She flies out at 6:00 and the male 20 minutes later. He is back at 6:45, checks the scrapes in the box, then sits on the ledge until 7:00. The male arrives with part-eaten Feral Pigeon at 9:55. The female arrives to take it from him but leaves without it. He flies off with the meal. He lands briefly at 10:35, 11:55, 12:45 and 14:05. The pair return at 15:45. The male goes into the box, and she joins him at 16:10. He flies out a few minutes later, she remains in the box tending the scrapes and preening. She flies out at 17:40 and returns at 18:05 and goes into the box. She tends the scrapes and flies out at 18:30.

4 Mar – the female arrives at 5:55 and goes into the box when the male lands 15 minutes later. He quickly leaves and she follows at 6:25. The male returns a few moments later and flies off at 6:45. He is back at 8:15 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey. The female swoops in and grabs it; they both leave. She is back at 10:10 with a full crop and goes into the box to check the scrapes. She returns to the ledge at 11:00 and flies off at 12:40. The male lands for five minutes at 12:45. He is back in the box tending the scrapes for ten minutes at 15:00 and leaves after a further five minutes. He lands briefly at 16:05. The female returns at 16:35 and goes into the box. She moves to the platform at 17:15 and quickly flies off.

3 Mar – the male lands briefly at 2:50. The female arrives 20 minutes later and goes into the box at 4:00 on the arrival of the male, moving back to the ledge after 15 minutes. The pair remain on the ledge together until 6:00 when the male leaves. She follows 25 minutes later. The male returns at 6:35 and checks the box, then sits on the ledge for five minutes before leaving. The female lands briefly at 9:20 calling loudly into the sky. The male lands at 9:30 for ten minutes. He is back at 10:55, checks the box then moves to the ledge and flies out. The female is back at 11:30 and goes into the box, then moves to the ledge where she remains until 12:20. She is back at 16:55 and goes into the box, then moves to the ledge at 17:05. The male arrives ten minutes later and she goes into the box, but the male immediately flies off. She moves to the ledge at 17:40 and flies off 15 minutes later.

2 Mar – the female remains on the ledge from the previous evening until 5:25 when she goes into the box on the arrival of the male. She is back on the ledge 15 minutes later and the male leaves at 5:50. She returns to the box when the male is back at 6:15. He flies off after five minutes and she moves back to the ledge and leaves at 6:35. The male flies in at 6:50, checks the box, then flies off at 7:15. He is back for 20 minutes at 7:40. The female returns at 8:15 for ten minutes, and the male lands briefly at 9:00 and again at 12:10. The pair are back at 14:00, the male goes into the box but quickly leaves. The female sits on the ledge with a full crop until 15:25 when the male lands and she goes into the box. He quickly flies out calling, and she follows. She lands briefly at 15:40. The pair are back at 17:10 and go into the box. He quickly leaves but she remains in the box tending the scrapes until 17:25 and flies off at 18:15.

1 Mar – the male flies in at 00:25 and sits on the ledge. He goes into the box briefly at 7:40, possibly waiting for the arrival of the female. He flies off at 6:40 but is back ten minutes later then flies off at 6:55. He is back at 7:15 and sits on the ledge until 7:40. The female arrives very briefly a few minutes later. The male lands carrying fresh Little Grebe prey at 8:05. The female arrives to take it from him; they both fly off. The male is back on the ledge at 8:40 and goes into the box five minutes later, then quickly returns to the ledge and flying off at 8:55. The female lands at 9:10 with a full crop and goes into the box to tend the scrapes. She is back on the ledge at 9:45 until moving back to the box at 11:15 and fly out five minutes later. The male returns briefly at 11:25 and the female is back for a few minutes at 12:55. The male is back at 13:10 carrying fresh plucked Starling prey. The female swoops in to take it and flies off and the male follows. She quickly returns and has obviously stashed her meal and goes into the box. She moves to the ledge at 13:30 where she remains until flying off at 14:50. She is back in the box two hours later and is followed by the male carrying the remains of Stock Dove prey. She returns at 17:05 and sits on the ledge until flying off at 18:10. She is back at 18:20, checks the box then sits on the ledge remaining until midnight.

FEBRUARY 2026

28 Feb – the female flies into the box at 6:55. She tends to the scrapes then sits on the ledge. The male lands briefly at 7:25 and she flies off five minutes later. The male lands briefly at 7:25 and she flies off five minutes later. He returns at 7:40 for 15 minutes. The female is back briefly at 9:35. The male flies into the box at 10:05 but quickly leaves. The female returns at 13:10 for 20 minutes. The pair fly in at 13:35. He soon leaves whilst she remains in the box for five minutes and flies off at 13:45. They are back together at 14:55. He flies off after a few minutes, and she soon follows. The male lands with fresh Starling prey at 21:00 but quickly leaves with it.

27 Feb – the male remains asleep on the ledge from the previous evening until 6:30. The female lands briefly at 8:35. A Stock Dove lands at 9:25 and just escapes the clutches of the arriving male by squeezing through a gap between two columns. He watches it fly away and returns to the box, then leaves ten minutes later. The male is back at 12:25 and calls from the ledge. The female arrives soon after and goes into the box. He flies off and she quickly follows. He is back at 15:00 and goes into the box, then moves to the ledge and flies off at 15:10. He is back at 17:15 quickly followed by the female. He flies out of the box a few minutes later and she leaves at 17:25.

26 Feb – the male remains sleeping on the ledge from the previous evening until 6:25 when he flies off on the arrival of the female; she leaves at 6:50. The male is back briefly at 7:30. They return together at 9:00 and go into the box. The male quickly leaves, and the female moves to the ledge after ten minutes tending the scrapes. She flies off at 10:55 and is replaced ten minutes later by the male but he leaves at 11:20. They are back in the box at 12:05. He quickly leaves and the she sits on the ledge ten minutes later. She flies off at 13:45 and the male lands briefly ten minutes later. The female returns at 15:05 and sits on the platform moving to the ledge at 16:15. The male, looking well fed, lands at 17:10 with the leftovers of a Feral Pigeon meal. The female takes it from him and feeds. He flies out, and she returns to the ledge until flying off at 18:00. The male is back 20 minutes later and remains until midnight.

25 Feb – the male arrives at 2:55 and falls asleep on the ledge. He flies off at 6:30 but is back 45 minutes later but quickly leaves. He returns with the female at 8:30 and he goes into the box. The female flies off immediately and he follows five minutes later. He is back briefly at 11:20. The female flies in at 12:15 and goes into the box 20 minutes later. She tends the scrapes for ten minutes, then moves to the ledge where she remains until 14:20. The male lands at 14:35 and leaves at 15:00. The male is in the box at 15:10, then moves to the ledge until flying off at 15:25. The female lands at 15:40 and sits on the ledge with a full crop. At 17:45, the male arrives with fresh Feral Pigeon prey. Despite already being well fed, the female takes it from him, and he flies off and she leaves with her meal. The male flies in at 18:20 and sits on the ledge with a full crop where he remains until midnight.

24 Feb – the male arrives at 3:55 and falls asleep on the ledge. He takes a short flight at 6:50, then quickly leaves. The female lands at 8:20. She goes into the box after five minutes and tends to the scrapes. She moves to the ledge at 8:45 and returns to the box when the male land briefly at 8:55. She moves back to the ledge and flies out at 9:20 to be replaced by the male. He goes into the box, tends the scrape then moves back to the ledge and flies off. He is back briefly at 9:50 and returns a few minutes later until 10:10. He is back in the box ten minutes later and quickly moves to the ledge. The female flies into the box at 10:40 and he calls to her from the ledge. They fly out together at 10:45. The male is back at 12:30 for five minutes. The pair fly in together at 14:00. The male goes into the box whilst the female sits on the ledge. He flies out at 14:20 and she follows five minutes later. He is back at 16:10 and is joined by the female at 17:15. She goes into the box, and he flies off. She moves to the ledge after tending the scrape, leaving at 17:50.

23 Feb – the male flies in at 2:25 and falls asleep on the ledge. He takes a short flight at 6:35 before leaving at 6:50. He is back at 7:35 and goes into the box, tends the scrape, then returns to the ledge and flies off. He returns at 9:25 for five minutes. The pair fly into the box at 14:20. The male flies out after five minutes bonding and the female moves to the ledge where she remains until 15:50 when the male returns carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She takes the meal from him, and they both fly off.

22 Feb – the male remains on the ledge from the previous evening until 6:50 when the female lands and they fly off together. The male returns at 8:05 with part-eaten Feral Pigeon. He looks for the female, then flies out with the meal. The female lands a few minutes later and goes into the box, tends the scrapes and flies out after five minutes. The male lands at 8:45 and sits on the ledge for 30 minutes. He returns with the female at 9:40 and they go into the box. He flies off after five minutes bonding. The female moves to the ledge until 10:00. The male is back briefly at 10:15 and at 12:00 for five minutes. He lands twice in five minutes at 13:30. The pair return at 14:40 and go into the box for a bout of bonding. He soon moves to the ledge, then flies out and she follows a few minutes later. They are back at 17:00. The female goes into the box as the male sits on the ledge for a few minutes, then leaves. She moves to the ledge at 17:10 and flies off 40 minutes later. The male flies in at 23:45 carrying fresh Redwing prey. The female follows and tries to take the meal from him but he flies off with it. She leaves soon after.

21 Feb – the male remains on the ledge from the previous evening until 6:45 when the female lands and they fly off together. They are back at 8:35 and go into the box. The male flies out after a short bout of bonding whilst the female remains tending the scrapes until moving to the ledge at 8:45 and flying off 15 minutes later. The male is back at 10:20, checks out the box then sits on the ledge for ten minutes. The female lands briefly at 10:35 and again at 12:15. She flies into the box at pace calling at 13:05 and leaves a few moments later. The male lands for five minutes at 14:15. He returns at 17:50 and remains on the ledge until midnight.

20 Feb – the male flies in at 6:05. He goes into the box at 6:45 on the arrival of the female. He leaves after a few minutes, and she soon follows. She is back at 9:45 for five minutes. She returns at 11:00 and flies out to meet the male who lands with fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She takes it from him and flies off and he leaves soon after. She is back at 12:00 and sits on the ledge with a full crop. She starts chipping and bobbing at 14:30 and flies off a few minutes later. The pair return at 15:25 and go into the box. The male moves to the ledge after five minutes bonding, then flies off. The female remains in the box tending the scrapes for 20 minutes, then moves to the ledge at 15:50 until 17:30. The male returns to the ledge 15 minutes later and remains until midnight.

19 Feb – the pair fly in at 6:35 but she leaves immediately, and he quickly follows. The female is back at 14:10 and goes into the box and tends the scrapes. She moves to the ledge after 15 minutes and flies off at 14:40. The male is back at 15:25 until 15:50. The female flies in at 16:45, checks the box then sits on the ledge for ten minutes. The male returns at 17:20 until 18:25.

18 Feb – the female flies in at 3:50 and goes into the box on the arrival of the male at 5:55. She flies out at 6:05 and forces the male from the ledge on exit. They return a few minutes later. The male flies off at 6:15 whilst the female remains until 7:00. The male is back in the box at 7:50, then sits on the ledge until 8:00. The pair fly in at 12:15 and have a short bout of bonding in the box. The male soon moves to the ledge and flies off. The female tends the scrapes then sits on the ledge at 12:25 and leaves at 12:40. The male returns at 16:35, checks the box then sits on the ledge with a full crop and flies off five minutes later. He is back for a few minutes at 16:55 and again at 17:25 for 20 minutes.

17 Feb – the female lands at 2:10. She goes into the box on the arrival of the male at 6:35. He flies off a few minutes later and she soon follows. He lands briefly at 7:40. He is back at 10:20 followed by the female but both quickly leave. He is back at 11:35, checks the box then flies off. He is back briefly at 13:00

16 Feb – the male flies in at 3:00 and remains until 6:15. He returns at 6:55 until 7:20. The female flies into the box at 8:00, tends the scrapes and leaves at 8:25. The male lands briefly at 8:40 and again at 8:45 for ten minutes. The female flies in briefly at 9:45. She returns with the male at 11:50 and they go into the box. The male leaves after a few minutes of bonding, whilst the female remains in the box tending the scrapes. She moves to the ledge at 12:00 and flies off 15 minutes later. The male flies into the box at 16:10 and leaves after five minutes.

15 Feb – the pair fly in together at 6:10. He goes into the box and flies out at 6:50. She remains on the ledge until flying off at 7:20. They are back at 8:25 and go into the box. He flies out after five minutes bonding. She moves to the ledge at 8:35 and flies off at 9:20. She is back five minutes later and goes into the box to tend the scrapes, then quickly moves back to the ledge. She flies off at 12:15 and returns at 13:20 for five minutes. The male lands with part-eaten prey at 14:40. The female swoops in and immediately takes it from him and leaves. He goes into the box for a few minutes, then sits on the ledge briefly before flying off. He is back on the ledge at 16:15 and goes into the box when the female joins him at 16:25. She moves to the ledge after a few minutes, and he remains in the box until leaving at 16:40; she soon follows. They return at 17:50 and she tends the scrape whilst he quickly leaves. She follows at 18:00.

14 Feb – the male lands at 6:45 for 15 minutes. The female arrives at 9:15 will a full crop. She goes into the box at 10:00 to tend the scrape for five minutes, then returns to the ledge where she remains until 10:40. The male is back at 11:00, goes into the box and flies out after five minutes. The female returns for a few minutes at 13:15.

13 Feb – the male arrives 7:10. He takes a short flight at 7:30 and goes into the box only to immediately fly out again. He is back for a few minutes at 8:45. The female lands briefly at 11:50 and the male flies into the box a few minutes later but quickly leaves.

12 Feb – the male arrives at 1:50 with Mistle Thrush prey. He checks the box, tends a scrape then flies out, probably looking for the female. He is back at 5:30 and remains on the ledge until 7:10. He flies in at 8:30 and goes into the box, then sits on the ledge, flying off five minutes later. He lands for a few seconds at 10:10 calling into the sky. He is back in the box at 13:00 for five minutes tending a scrape, then flies out. The female lands at 15:50 and goes into the box to tend the scrapes. She moves to the ledge at 16:05 until flying off at 17:00.

11 Feb – the male lands briefly at 8:45. He flies into the box 30 minutes later then moves to the ledge and leaves after five minutes. The female lands at 9:25 and tends the scrapes in the box. She moves back to the ledge at 9:45 and leaves at 10:20. She is back at 11:35 for five minutes. The pair fly in at 12:30 and have a brief bonding session. The male soon leaves whilst the female tends the scrapes, then moves to the ledge. She flies off at 13:00 returning 20 minutes later but quickly leaves. She is back at 13:45 and remains until 14:20.

10 Feb – WATCH DAY: the male lands at 6:55 calling into the skies. He has a preen before 7:15. He is back at 7:40 and goes into the box on the arrival of the female a few minutes later. She remains on the ledge, and he flies out at 8:50; she soon follows. On arrival at the Watch Point at 9:30, the male was on an east-facing cross. He flew off after 15 minutes but soon returned with the female. Unfortunately, both birds spent most of the morning on the north side of the spire. There were a number of flights and activity by both birds suggestive of mating attempts. The pair fly into the box at 13:05. The male moves to the ledge after a few minutes bonding and flies off at 13:15. The female tends the scrapes moving to the ledge at 13:35 showing a full crop. She flies off at 16:45 and the male immediately lands carrying part-eaten Feral Pigeon. The female arrives to take it from him and leaves with it. The male sits on the ledge and is joined by the female at 16:55. He soon leaves, and she flies off at 17:45.

9 Feb – the male remains on the ledge from the previous evening. He takes a short flight at 7:00, then goes into the box for a few minutes before returning to the ledge. He flies off at 7:20 and returns with the female at 8:30. They go into the box for a bout of bonding. The male soon leaves whilst the female tends the scrapes then moves to the ledge and flies off at 8:55. She is back at 9:30 calling from the box and leaves after five minutes. The male lands briefly at 9:40 and again for five minutes at 10:55. He is back at 16:15, flies out five minutes later then returns with the female. He goes into the box whilst she sits on the ledge until joining him at 16:40. The male moves to the ledge after five minutes bonding, then flies off. The female moves to the ledge then returns to the box at 16:55, tends the scrape, then moves back to the ledge and flies off at 17:15.

8 Feb – the male lands at 6:15. He goes into the box when the female arrives at 6:55, she follows after a few minutes. They fly out together at 7:05 after a short bout of bonding. She returns immediately and tends the scrapes then sits on the ledge until 7:25. She is back briefly at 9:00 and returns at 9:40 and goes into the box to tend to the scrapes. She moves to the ledge after 15 minutes and flies off ten minutes later. The male flies into the box at 16:15, tends the scrapes, then moves to the ledge where he remains until midnight.

7 Feb – the female lands at 2:50. She goes into the box when the male joins her at 6:50 and tends the scrapes. He remains on the ledge until flying off ay 7:05. The female then returns to the ledge but leaves a few minutes later. The male is back at 13:35 for five minutes. He lands briefly at 15:25 but quickly returns followed by the female and they go into the box but she immediately flies out and he soon follows. He is back at 16:00 for a few minutes.

6 Feb – the male flies in at 7:00 and is joined by the female 25 minutes later. She leaves immediately but he sits on the ledge in the rain until 7:50. They are back at 10:55. He goes into the box whilst she sits on the ledge for a few minutes then joins him for a bout of bonding. The male soon leaves, and after tending the scrapes, the female moves back to the ledge at 11:05, then flies off. On a visit to the city centre at mid-day today, both birds were active around the spire. There was calling between the pair and what looked like several mating attempts. The male is back at 16:25 and goes into the box briefly, then sits on the ledge but leaves after five minutes.

5 Feb – the pair fly in at 7:25. The male goes into the box, but the female immediately leaves. The male moves to the ledge and flies off after five minutes. The female is back at 12:55 for ten minutes.

4 Feb – the pair fly in at 7:05 and the male goes into the box. The female soon leaves and the male quickly follows. The female is back 20 minutes later and goes into the box to tend the scrapes, then moves to the ledge at 7:55 before flying off at 8:15. She is back at 11:35 carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She plucks it and feeds on the platform, flying off with her meal at 11:40. The pair fly in at 16:30. The male goes into the box and the female joins him after ten minutes on the ledge. There is a short bout of bonding, then the male leaves. The female remains in the box until 17:20 when she moves to the ledge and flies off.

3 Feb – the male flies in at 6:35 for 20 minutes. The female lands at 7:25 and is joined by the male a few minutes later. They go into the box, but the male quickly leaves, and the female follows soon after. The male is back at 8:35 for ten minutes. The pair return at 14:50 and the male goes into the box, whilst the female sits on the ledge. He leaves at 15:00. Something flies close to the box at 15:15 and the female follows in pursuit.

2 Feb – the male remains asleep on the ledge from the previous evening. He wakens at 5:35 and preens vigorously before flying off at 5:50. He returns with the female at 7:15. She quickly flies out, but he remains on the ledge for ten minutes. He is back at 7:45 until 8:20 and at 10:25 for ten minutes. He returns with the female at 11:10 and there is a brief bout of bonding in the box. He soon leaves as she tends the scrapes until moving to the ledge at 11:30 with a full crop. She flies off at 12:15.

1 Feb – the male remains on the ledge until flying off at 7:15. He returns quickly with the female, and they go into the box. She then moves to the ledge, and he flies out a few minutes later forcing her from the ledge in the process. She quickly returns and goes into the box before moving back to the ledge and flying off at 7:45. The male is back briefly at 10:00. He returns again at 14:45, falls asleep and remains on the ledge until midnight.

Daily Commentary Archive Link