DAILY COMMENTARY
This is a diary of the Leicester Peregrines activities. If you have any questions or comments, please contact: Jim Graham: cropstonbirder@gmail.com
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The Next Leicester Peregrine Watch Days are on Tuesdays: 20th October (please note change of date), 10th November and 8th December – 10:00 – 14:00. Please note later starting time.
Weather dependent.
September 2026
27 Sep – the female arrived at 4:20 and sat on the ledge until 6:20 when she found the remains of yesterday’s meal. She finished feeding after 15 minutes and moved back to the ledge. She picked at scraps at 8:55 before flying off at 9:05. XRF landed at 10:00 and sat on the ledge with a full crop. He visited the box at 10:25 and flew off when the female returned at 10:50. She flew out five minutes later. XRF was back at 12:10 with part-eaten Feral Pigeon. He fed on the remains then sat on the ledge. The female flew into the box at 12:30 to tend the scrapes, and XRF left. He returned a few minutes later but quickly left. The female saw the pigeon remains and took them into the box, then moved to the ledge at 12:45. She returned to the box after ten minutes. She moved back to the ledge at 14:40 and remained until 19:00.
26 Sep – XRF arrived at 6:40 closely followed by the female. He went into the box, but when she entered, he immediately flew out. She moved to the platform after five minutes and flew off at 7:05. XRF returned at 9:00, tended the scrapes in the box then lay on the platform. He moved to the ledge at 12:55 and flew off at 13:45. The female landed with very fresh Feral Pigeon prey five minutes later. She fed on her meal until 14:55 when she stashed the remains by a column and fell asleep on the ledge. She remained on the ledge until 19:15 when she picked up the stashed meal and started eating. She stashed the scraps at 19:25 and flew off.
25 Sep – the female flew in at 4:55. She made a brief visit to the box at 6:30 and flew out at 6:45. XRF paid a quick visit to the box at 7:05 and landed briefly at 7:50 and 8:15. He made another short visit to the box at 8:50 where he tended the scrape. He returned at 10:20 and lay on the platform in the sun, then moved to the ledge at 10:55. He went into the box and sat in the scrape from 11:20 for 30 minutes, then moved to the ledge until he left at 12:00. He returned 40 minutes later with a full crop and sat on the ledge until he left at 15:50.
24 Sep – XRF landed very briefly on the platform at 10:00, calling into the sky. The female flew into the box at 10:25, found the stashed pigeon from yesterday and fed. She had finished 20 minutes later and flew out with the remains at 10:50. XRF was back at 11:10 and made a scrape on the platform, then went into the box at 11:30 and sat in a scrape. He moved back to the ledge at 14:30 and flew off at 17:15.
23 Sep – XRF landed at 6:35, went into the box then sat on the ledge for a few minutes before flying out. He was back at 8:00, checked the box then quickly flew out. He returned at 9:10 and went into the box after 30 minutes. He dozed in the back of the box, tended and then lay in the scrape. He moved to the ledge at 12:50 showing a full crop. The female flew into the box carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 13:20. The male flew off at 13:50 whilst the female remained in the box feeding until she fell asleep at 15:00. She started feeding again 30 minutes later, moved to the ledge at 16:10 and flew off at 18:55.
22 Sep – XRF arrived at 6:30, tended the scrapes in the box then flew out after a few minutes. The female landed briefly at 13:35. XRF was back at 18:30, checked the box then sat on the ledge for 15 minutes.
21 Sep – XRF arrived at 7:20, checked the box then moved to the ledge and flew off ten minutes later. He was back at 10:55 and lay on the platform. He sat on the ledge at 13:00 but returned to lying on the platform after 30 minutes. He flew out at 14:25. He returned at 15:10 followed by the female and they went into the box; he quickly left and she flew off ten minutes later. XRF was back on the ledge at 17:55. He flew off after ten minutes and was replaced by the female at 18:15. She sat on the ledge until 19:45.
20 Sep – XRF landed at 6:45 and sat on the ledge until he left at 7:10. He was back at 8:00 and noticed the stashed Quail meal 20 minutes later and fed on the platform. He had finished at 8:35 and returned to the ledge with a full crop. He went into the box when the female landed at 9:15 but he quickly left. She tended the scrapes then moved to the ledge and flew off at 9:25. XRF was back at 19:05, checked the box then sat on the ledge until flying off at 19:35.
19 Sep – the female arrived at 4:25 and sat on the ledge until 6:50. XRF landed at 8:25, checked the box then sat on the ledge. He lay down on the platform at 9:50. He flew off on the arrival of the female at 11:20, and she went into the box. She moved to the ledge at 12:45 but was back in the box 45 minutes later. She returned to the ledge at 14:20 and flew off after ten minutes. The female returned at 23:45 carrying Quail prey which she stashed by a column and left.
18 Sep – the female arrived at 6:15 and fed on the stashed Teal and flew off at 7:05. XRF landed at 7:40, sat on the ledge then moved into the box briefly after ten minutes. He lay on the platform at 9:00 and flew off 40 minutes later when the female returned. She sat in the box then moved back to the ledge at 11:30 and remained until 15:20 when she tended the scrapes for five minutes before flying off. XRF landed a few minutes later and went into the box when the female flew in at 16:00. He quickly left whilst she flew off at 16:45.
17 Sep – the female arrived at 2:15 and dozed on the ledge. She went into the box briefly at 6:20, then returned to the ledge and flew off at 6:55. XRF landed at 7:10 and sat on the ledge until 7:50. The female flew into the box at 11:00 and moved to the ledge at 12:05. She flew off at 14:40 but returned 15 minutes later. She left at 15:20 and was replaced by XRF. He flew off at 16:25 as the female arrived with very fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She took it into the box to pluck and feed. She stashed the remains at 17:40 then moved to the ledge and left two hours later.
16 Sep – the female flew in just past midnight with part-eaten Teal prey which she stashed and then sat on the ledge with a full crop. She flew off at 6:20. XRF arrived at 7:55 and spied the stashed meal. He fed on the prey and flew off with the remains when the female returned at 8:15. She went into the box and flew out after ten minutes. XRF was back at 14:05 and went into the box when the female landed ten minutes later. She left after a few minutes, and he returned to the ledge, leaving at 14:35. He returned at 15:15 and sat on the ledge. He visited the box at 17:05 and returned to the ledge after ten minutes. He was back in the box with the female at 18:05 but quickly left. She tended to the scrapes then flew out at 18:20.
15 Sep – XRF landed at 6:25, quickly followed by the female who went into the box. He quickly left whilst she remained in the box until moving to the ledge at 7:00. She moved back to the box at 8:45 and was back on the ledge 30 minutes later until flying off at 10:00. She was back in the box at 11:40 and returned to the ledge at 12:10 until 14:20. XRF flew in at 16:45, tended the scrapes then sat on the ledge until 18:15. He was back at 18:50 with a full crop and remained until 19:45.
14 Sep – the female landed at 5:30 and dozed on the ledge until flying off at 7:05. This was the only activity on camera today.
13 Sep – XRF arrived at 17:40, checked the scrape in the box then moved to the ledge and flew out ten minutes later. This was the only activity on camera today.
12 Sep – XRF arrived at 7:05, checked the box then sat on the ledge and left after five minutes. The female landed at 8:55. She went into the box at 12:30 on the arrival of XRF. He called at her from the ledge then flew off at 12:50. The female was back on the ledge 15 minutes later and left at 16:45. XRF was back at 17:10, checked the box, then flew off ten minutes later. He returned at 18:55 until 19:05.
11 Sep – the female landed at 5:25 and went into the box, then moved to the ledge and flew off at 5:45. XRF arrived at 6:50, checked the box then moved to the ledge and flew off at 7:20. The female returned at 9:10 and went into the box. She moved back to the ledge at 10:35 until flying off at 14:45.
10 Sep – XRF landed at 5:55 for ten minutes. He was back at 9:25, checked the box then sat on the ledge. He took a short flight at 9:50 and the female joined him on the platform five minutes later. She went into the box as he sat on the ledge. He called to her for a few minutes at 11:10. She flew out at 11:45 but he remained on the ledge. She returned at 12:00 carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey and took it into the box. She mantled her meal whilst she plucked it and fed. He looked to get close to her meal at 13:25 but she secured it. She flew off with the remains at 14:30 and he immediately followed.
9 Sep – XRF landed at 6:35, checked the box then sat on the ledge until 8:35 when he went back into the box on the arrival of the female. She joined him but he quickly left. She remained in the box preening and dozing until 11:00 when she flew out. She returned at 14:45 and went into the box and tended the scrapes. She moved to the ledge at 16:35 and flew off at 18:40.
8 Sep – XRF landed at 6:15 and went into the box at 6:35 for five minutes to tend the scrape. He flew off a few minutes later, was back at 7:10 and sat on the ledge with a full crop. He returned at 13:00 and went into the box for 15 minutes. He moved to the ledge and remained until 14:45 when he flew off for ten minutes. The female arrived at 15:25 and they went into the box. He flew out a few minutes later and she followed at 15:35.
7 Sep – XRF arrived at 6:20, quickly followed by the female. He immediately left and she moved to the ledge and flew off at 6:50. XRF was back at 8:10 and sat on the ledge with a full crop. He went into the box at 15:30 and was joined by the arriving female. He quickly left whilst she tended to the scrapes, then moved to the ledge and flew off at 16:50.
6 Sep – XRF landed at 5:55 and sat on the ledge until 6:50 when he went into the box for a few minutes to tend the scrapes, then flew off a few minutes later. He was back at 9:05, checked the box briefly, tended a scrape, then left after ten minutes. He returned at 19:35, checked the box then sat on the ledge until chasing something in the night sky at 22:50.
5 Sep – XRF landed at 6:45, checked the box then flew out. He returned at 7:35, preened then sat on the ledge with a full crop. He lay on the platform at 8:45 until 10:06 when the female flew into the box and he left. She moved to the ledge at 12:25 and flew off at 14:50.
4 Sep – the female was back on the ledge at 00:05. She left at 5:55 and returned with XRF at 7:15. He quickly left, and she flew out soon after. XRF landed briefly at 8:10. He returned at 9:40 and went into the box, then moved to the ledge. He was back in the box on the arrival of the female at 11:00. He flew out at 11:10 whilst the female remained in the box until moving to the ledge at 11:45 and flew off at 13:05. XRF was back at 15:05 until 16:35.
3 Sep – the female arrived at 2:20 and watched the skies until 4:45 when she flew off. XRF landed at 8:35, went into the box then moved to the ledge ten minutes later. He was back in the box at 9:10 tending the scrapes, then sat on the rail at the back of the box. The female flew into the box at 11:10 and XRF flew out. The female moved to the ledge at 12:00 and left at 13:50. She was back in the box a few moments later and moved to the ledge at 14:55. She returned to the box at 17:05 and flew out ten minutes later. XRF landed at 20:05 and sat on the ledge until going into the box at 23:55.
2 Sep – XRF landed briefly at 6:45. He was back at 7:00 followed by the female. He went into the box but quickly left. She sat on the ledge with a full crop until 9:10. XRF returned at 15:40, grabbed the stashed pigeon and flew out with it. He was back at 18:15 and went into the box to tend the scrapes. The female landed a few minutes later. He flew out and she tended the scrapes then moved to the ledge until 20:05.
1 Sep – XRF remained on the ledge from the previous evening until flying off at 6:00. The female arrived ten minutes later but left at 6:20. XRF was back briefly at 6:45 and returned again at 9:20. He visited the box, then lay on the platform and tried to keep in the shade, then flew off at 10:10. He was back briefly at 15:25. The female flew in at 18:50 carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She took it into the box to pluck and feed. She stashed the remains and moved to the ledge at 20:00. XRF landed a few minutes later but quickly left and she flew off ten minutes later.
August 2026
31 Aug – XRF landed at 5:50 quickly followed by the female. He went into the box but quickly left. She sat on the ledge until 6:10. XRF was back on the ledge with a full crop at 8:50. He lay on the platform at 9:20 for 30 minutes, then returned to the ledge and flew off at 12:50. The female returned at 15:20, tended the scrapes in the box then moved to the ledge and left 20 minutes later. She was back at 18:05, checked the box and scrape, then moved to the ledge and flew out at 18:30. XRF returned a few minutes later, checked the box, tended the scrapes, then sat on the ledge until 19:15. He was back at 19:55 and sat on the ledge with a full crop until midnight.
30 Aug – XRF landed at 6:20 quickly followed by the female. He went into the box but left after a few minutes whilst she sat on the ledge and flew off a few minutes later. She returned at 8:05 carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey and plucked it on the platform. She fed briefly then stashed the remains in the box and left at 9:20. XRF landed a few minutes later, picked at scraps then saw the stashed meal. He fed on it for 30 minutes, then flew off with the remains at 9:55. The female was back at 10:20 and went into the box. She moved to the ledge at 13:55 and returned to the box at 16:50 for ten minutes as something flew over her head. She was back in the box briefly at 18:50 for the same reason – presumably XRF landing on the spire. She flew off five minutes later and was quickly replaced by XRF. He checked the box then moved to the ledge until flying off at 21:35.
29 Aug – XRF landed at 5:45 and tended the scrapes in the box ten minutes later before returning to the ledge and flying off. The female arrived at 6:10 for five minutes. She returned at 9:10 and sat on the ledge until 12:25 when she went into the box, tended to the scrapes and dozed before flying out an hour later.
28 Aug – the female flew into the box at 7:35 and moved to the ledge at 7:50. She was back in the shade of the box at 9:05 and remained in the box until flying out at 15:45.
27 Aug – XRF landed at 6:50 until 7:05. He was back at 16:35 with a full crop and sat on the ledge until leaving three hours later.
26 Aug – XRF arrived at 1:20. He fell asleep on the ledge until flying off at 5:40, and was replaced by the female. She left after ten minutes. XRF returned with a full crop at 9:00 and sat on the ledge. The female flew into the box at 13:20 until she left at 15:35. XRF remained dozing on the ledge until 19:15.
25 Aug – The female landed at 4:05. She went into the box at 5:40 as XRF arrived on the ledge. He quickly left and she followed. She was back in the box at 11:55 and remained there until flying out at 17:05. XRF was back at 20:20 but left after 15 minutes.
24 Aug – XRF remained on the ledge and made a quick visit to the box at midnight and flew off at 00:45. He returned at 5:40 followed by the female. She spied the stashed Grebe, picked it up and flew out followed by XRF. He returned a few moments later, checked the box twice seemingly looking for his meal, then sat on the ledge before quickly flying. He landed briefly at 7:25. The female flew into the box at 13:15 where she remained tending the scrapes and dozing until flying out at 16:25. XRF landed at 18:05, checked the box and left a few moments later.
23 Aug – the female arrived at 2:35 carrying very fresh Black-tailed Godwit prey. She stashed her meal and sat on the ledge until 3:25. XRF landed at 7:10 having already fed with a very full crop. The female flew into the box at 8:20 and remained there in the shade tending the scrapes until XRF flew off at 9:30. She moved to the platform and left at 9:45. The female returned at 17:05 to collect her Godwit meal and quickly left. XRF flew in at 23:25 carrying very fresh Little Grebe prey. He stashed his meal and sat on the ledge until midnight.
22 Aug – the female arrived at 3:20 carrying fresh Moorhen prey and fell asleep on the ledge. She flew out with it at 8:00. She flew out with it at 8:05. XRF landed at 11:50 and sat on the platform preening. At 12:45 he lay on the platform, then flew out in a hurry at 14:00. The female was back at 16:45 and went into the box until flying out at 18:20.
21 Aug – the cameras were back on-line at 13:25 but there was no activity recorded.
20 Aug – the cameras were off-line today.
19 Aug – there was no activity seen before the cameras went down at 7:25.
18 Aug – XRF arrived at 5:50 quickly followed by the female. He went into the box, and she joined him. She picked up the stashed pigeon meal and left with it. He moved to the ledge and flew off at 6:20. He returned at 12:00 and lay on the platform until 14:15 when he preened for 30 minutes, then lay on the platform again. He went into the box at 16:05 and flew off after ten minutes. He flew into the box briefly at 19:20, then sat on the ledge until 20:30.
18 Aug UPDATE – I received notification this morning that juvenile 4AB (male) had been rescued from a gull attack near Abbey Park and was sent to the Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital. His injuries were determined to be too severe and he was euthanised. On a positive note, this confirmed our belief that juveniles were still in the vicinity being fed by the female. This gave us hope for 4BB and 4CB.
17 Aug – XRF sat on the ledge from 5:30 until 5:55. He was back at 13:05, went into the box to tend the scrapes, then sat on the ledge flying off a few minutes later. The female arrived at 18:45 carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey. Whilst standing on her meal, she looked around the city skies. She took it into the box and plucked it but did not feed on the pigeon. After plucking it, she looked out over the city again – the possibility of her still feeding juveniles was still real. She stashed it by a column and eventually flew off at 19:25.
16 Aug – XRF arrived at 5:30 calling loudly quickly followed by the female. She went into the box but he flew off when she walked to the platform a few minutes later. She left soon after. XRF landed briefly at 8:50. There was no further activity on camera today.
15 Aug – the female arrived at 1:45 carrying the remains of a Feral Pigeon meal that she had just eaten and stashed them by a column. She sat on the ledge with a full crop until 5:05. XRF landed 15 minutes later calling, saw the stashed pigeon and fed on it. He flew off with the remains at 6:45. He was back on the ledge with a full crop at 10:25 and went into the box on the arrival of the female ten minutes later. He flew out after a few minutes, and she left at 10:50. He was back on the ledge at 14:45 until 17:55. He flew into the box at 19:00, tended the scrapes and flew out five minutes later.
14 Aug – the female landed at 5:05 and she called at XRF as he missed his landing. She flew off after ten minutes. XRF landed at 5:55, tended the scrapes in the box then sat on the ledge until 6:20. There was no further activity on camera today.
13 Aug – the female landed at 5:25 calling loudly but left after a few minutes. XRF arrived at 6:35, checked the box and left after ten minutes. He was back at 12:15 and went into the box to shelter and tend the scrapes. He moved to the ledge at 14:30. He tried to get some relief from the intense heat by standing next to a column at 16:10. He was back on the ledge 40 minutes later and flew off at 16:55.
12 Aug – XRF landed at 2:15. He checked for scraps in the box and flew out 15 minutes later. He was back at 17:00 and went into the box when the female arrived at 17:10 but quickly left. She remained in the box tending the scrapes until 17:25 when she moved to the ledge then flew off at 19:10.
11 Aug – WATCH DAY – XRF landed at 5:50, picked at scraps, checked the scrapes in the box, then sat on the ledge but left at 6:00. The female arrived at 6:55 carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She plucked it and flew out with the remains at 7:25. When we arrived for the Watch Day, the female was sitting on the highest north-facing cross whilst XRF was sitting in a round window just below. They remained in their respective places until two Buzzards flew over at 11:50. First XRF took off in pursuit and was quickly followed by the female. He was soon back in the box tending the scrapes for ten minutes then sat on the ledge. The female did not make an appearance before we left, and the male remained on the ledge until 15:10.
10 Aug – the female flew in at 00:35 carrying very fresh Sandwich Tern prey. She eventually stashed it by a column and flew off at 1:00. XRF landed at 5:00. The female returned with a full crop at 5:40 and went into the box and the male flew off. She moved to the ledge after a few minutes. She flew off at 7:40 and XRF landed and saw the stashed tern and fed on it. He had finished 30 minutes later and sat on the ledge. He moved back into the box at 9:10 and returned to the ledge at 12:15. The female landed at 13:45 and went into the box to tend the scrape as XRF stood over the remains of this morning’s meal protecting it. She flew out after 15 minutes and he fed on the tern remains, then moved back to the ledge and left at 16:55. The female returned at 20:45, fed on scraps on the platform and flew off at 21:10.
9 Aug – XRF landed briefly at 5:30. He was back at 8:20 with a full crop and sat in the shade of the box. He moved to the ledge at 9:45 but was quickly back in the shade. He lay down on the platform at 10:40 and went into the back of the box briefly ten minutes later, then stood in the shade of a column. He flew out at 11:20. He was back with a re-filled crop at 18:35 calling loudly. The female flew into the box at 19:50 and XRF left a few minutes later. She moved to the ledge and flew out at 20:05.
8 Aug – XRF landed at 11:30 and stood in the shade on the platform. He lay down at 12:40 and flew out at 13:30. The female arrived at 15:25, checked the box, then sat on the ledge before leaving at 15:50.
7 Aug – XRF landed on the ledge with a full crop at 8:10. He stood in the shadow of a column 15 minutes later and lay down at 9:00. He moved to the platform at 10:40 and then went into the box after five minutes. He moved back to the ledge at 12:55 and remained until 15:45. The female landed with very fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 15:55. She plucked and prepared it in the box then flew out with substantial remains at 17:00 – was she still feeding juveniles? XRF arrived ten minutes later and sat on the ledge until 17:50.
6 Aug – XRF flew into the box at 10:00 carrying fresh House Martin prey. He fed on his meal then moved to the ledge. The female flew into the box at 10:15 and tended the scrapes, then dozed at the back. The male took shelter from the sun in the shadow of a column at 11:10. He started calling loudly a few minutes later and was distracted by something overhead. The female moved to the platform to check but neither flew out immediately. She left at 11:25 and he quickly followed. There was no further activity on camera today.
5 Aug – XRF flew into the box at 5:20 followed by the female; he quickly left. She tended the scrapes, then moved to the ledge at 5:35 and flew off 15 minutes later. She was back at 6:45 carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey but left with it after a few minutes. XRF landed calling at 7:00 and flew off ten minutes later. The female was back at 7:30, checked the box, then left. She did not have a full crop so had not fed on the earlier pigeon – was that for off-site juveniles? XRF landed at 7:40, checked the scrapes then left. He was back at 9:45 for 15 minutes. The female returned at 11:50 and went into the box and tended the scrapes. She moved to the ledge at 12:00 and flew off five minutes later. XRF landed again at 20:30 and remained until 22:05.
4 Aug – the female flew in at 9:40 carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey and she was quickly followed by XRF. He tried to steal her meal, but she mantled it, and he was forced back to the ledge. He watched her pluck and feed, calling loudly begging for food. She took her meal into the box at 10:05 and he saw some scraps and flew out with them. She fed for another ten minutes, then left. XRF was back at 11:35 looking for food, tended to the scrapes in the box, then sat on the ledge. He flew off at 16:05 and returned to the ledge four hours later and remained until 23:35.
3 Aug – XRF flew into the box at 5:00 quickly followed by the female, but the male left immediately. The female looked from the ledge and followed a few minutes later. She returned at 6:00 carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She plucked it on the platform and left with it at 6:15 without eating – was she taking it to feed the juveniles? She was back at 8:00 carrying another very fresh Feral Pigeon. Her crop was not full so she had not fed on the previous pigeon. XRF landed but quickly left. She took her meal into the box, plucked it and fed, then took the substantial remains when she flew out at 8:25. XRF landed ten minutes later and fed on scraps on the platform, then sat on the ledge until leaving at 8:55. XRF was back on the ledge at 12:40 and was joined by a Stock Dove at 14:15, but he ignored a potential meal and it flew off after ten minutes. The male flew off at 15:05. The female was back at 20:05, checked the scrapes in the box and flew off 15 minutes later.
2 Aug – the female flew in with a pigeon leg (just the leg) which she stashed by a column at 1:50. She sat on the ledge with a full crop. Strangely, at 5:00, she picked up the leg and flew off with it – waste not want not! XRF landed with a full crop at 9:10 and sat on the ledge. He then sheltered in the shade of the column at 10:25. He moved back to the ledge at 13:10 and eventually left at 16:45. He was back at 17:30, checked the box and flew out after five minutes.
1 Aug – the female arrived at 4:15 carrying fresh Black-headed Gull prey. She stashed it by a column then sat on the ledge until leaving at 5:00. XRF flew in 20 minutes later, saw the meal and flew out with it. He returned to the ledge with a full crop at 6:45. He sheltered in the shade of the columns at 8:15 for 15 minutes then moved back to the ledge and flew off at 8:40. He was back at 9:50 and sheltered in the shade of the box until flying off at 10:30 but returned a few minutes later. The female flew into the box at 10:50 and was joined by XRF but he flew out soon after. She remained until flying out at 11:10. XRF landed at 21:20 but left after ten minutes.