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
Click here for LIVE STREAMING of all three cameras.
The Next Leicester Peregrine Watch Day is: Tuesday 12th May at 09:30 – 13:30 – weather dependent. Look out for additional dates.
May 2026
7 May – the female moves to the ledge at 5:00 and flies off ten minutes later. The chicks huddle together until she returns over an hour later with fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She feeds the chicks then leaves with the remains at 6:55 and quickly returns. She is off again at 8:35 and is back after ten minutes. She moves to the ledge at 9:10, then flies off. She is back with the remains of the previous meal at 10:05. They have finished feeding 15 minutes later, and she shelters them. She is back on the ledge for a few minutes at 10:35 and flies out briefly at 11:00. She is off again a few minutes later. The male flies in to check the chicks some 2hr 50min later. He only remains for a few minutes as the chicks beg for food. She eventually returns carrying a fresh pigeon meal at 15:35. They have finished feeding at 16:30 and she leaves with the remains. She is back and feeds them on scraps from the box, then shelters the youngsters. She is off again at 18:20 and returns with another Feral Pigeon at 19:40. They have finished feeding at 20:15 and she shelters the chicks until midnight.
6 May – the female sits on the ledge from 1:25 until 1:50 looking into the skies, then returns to the chicks and shelters them. She looks out briefly at 4:35 and again at 5:10 and 5:20. She flies off at 6:00. The male flies in at 6:05 checks on the chicks, then leaves. The female returns at 6:50 carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey and feeds the young. She flies out to stash the remains at 7:20, then returns to continue incubation. She is off again at 8:55. The male lands with a fresh Feral Pigeon meal at 9:10 and the female relieves him off it. The chicks are well fed by 9:35 and she flies out with the remaining scraps, then returns for incubation duties. The chicks are growing well and she is finding it hard to cover them all, but they are now coated in a heavy, downy feathering. She flies out briefly at 12:35. At 13:25 she leaves for 20 minutes and returns to feed the chicks on scraps. She is off again at 14:25 but quickly returns with more scraps. She flies out at 14:55 and is back with another Feral Pigeon meal 30 minutes later. She is joined by the male and he watches for a few minutes, then leaves. There is nothing left at 16:10. She flies out again at 17:15. The male arrives 15 minutes later quickly followed by the female. There is calling between the pair and they both leave – possible intruder activity. She returns at 17:40 but soon looks out from the platform and leaves at 18:00 and quickly returns with a plucked Pigeon – no doubt prepared by the male. The chicks have finished eating 35 minutes later and there is nothing left and the female shelters them. She takes a short flight at 19:30 and again 15 minutes later. Something attracts her attention at 23:35 and she quickly flies out but returns after a few minutes to continue incubation.
5 May – the female moves to the ledge at 2:55 and takes short flights at 3:20 and 3:30 before leaving at 3:40 and returning to the chicks at 4:05. She looks out from the platform at 5:10 for five minutes and feeds the chicks scraps from the box at 5:35 and flies off a few minutes later. The male flies in at 7:05 to check the chicks but leaves a few minutes later. The female arrives a few minutes after carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She feeds the chicks then flies out to stash the remains at 7:40, then returns to continue incubation. She is off again at 8:40 and the male arrives with another Feral Pigeon at 8:55. The female lands immediately, snatches the meal, then feeds the young. She flies out with the remains at 9:10, then quickly returns. She is off again at 11:10 for 15 minutes, and 11:50 until 12:15 when she returns with Goldfinch prey and feeds the chicks, but does not last long. She leaves again at 12:35 and returns at 14:50 with another Feral Pigeon meal. She leaves with the scraps at 15:10 and quickly returns to the chicks. She is off again at 16:25 and returns with the remains of one of the pigeons at 17:10. She covers the chicks after feeding. She leaves at 18:40 and returns with scraps, then shelters the young until midnight.
4 May – the female covers the chicks until 5:05 when the male arrives. She looks out from the platform briefly as he leaves. He is back at 5:35 and she flies out but quickly returns with fresh Feral Pigeon prey and feeds the chicks as the male sits on the ledge for ten minutes. She flies out with the remains at 5:55 and is soon back to shelter the chicks. She flies out briefly at 7:05 and again 20 minutes later returning with the male carrying part of a previously stashed pigeon. She flies out at 9:35 and returns 20 minutes later with fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She removes the remains at 10:20 and resumes incubation until leaving briefly at 11:05. She leaves again at 13:30 and returns with a few scraps. She flies off again at 14:15 for ten minutes. At 14:55, she leaves and returns 15 minutes later with another fresh Feral Pigeon meal. However, she does not feed the chicks but leaves with the meal. She is back briefly at 15:30 and returns with scraps an hour later to feed the chicks. She is off again at 17:00 and returns five minutes later with a purple and orange colour-dyed pigeon. She flies out to stash the remains at 17:25. She covers the chicks until leaving at 19:15. The male flies in at 19:30 quickly followed by the female who forces him out. She has the remains of the colour-dyed pigeon and feeds the young. There is nothing left half an hour later. She shelters the chicks for the rest of the evening.
3 May – the female remains sheltering the chicks until a short flight at 3:45. She looks out from the box at 5:05, 5:30 and 5:40, then flies off at 6:00 and returns a few minutes later. She looks out again at 6:30, then flies off returning at 7:05. She leaves at 7:15 and returns with very fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She plucks the meal and feeds the chicks, then flies out with the remains at 8:00. She quickly returns and shelters the chicks. She takes a short flight at 11:25 and returns with a small scrap of a meal. She is off again at 11:50 and quickly returns with a part-plucked Feral Pigeon. The speed with which she returned with the plucked prey must mean that the male is back, although he has not been seen yet. She finishes feeding at 12:10 and flies out with the remains. The male arrives five minutes later and shelters the chicks before the female returns and forces him out. She calls from the ledge at 12:40, then flies out, returning at 13:05. She is off again at 14:15 for 20 minutes. At 14:50, she leaves and returns a few minutes later with another Feral Pigeon meal. She leaves to stash the remains after ten minutes feeding and quickly returns. She is off at 15:55 and the male flies in at 16:15, checks the chicks then sits on the ledge until flying off at 16:30. The female returns briefly at 17:55 and is back five minutes later with another fresh Feral Pigeon meal. The chicks have now grown to the stage where they are capable of leaving the scrape and have started moving around the box. She stashes the remains by a column, then drags the smallest chick back into the scrape, but the three others huddle together in the opposite corner. She spends time moving between the two locations and gradually gets them all together again at 19:00. She tries to build the scrape up with stones to keep them in and incubates as best possible until midnight.
2 May – the female shelters the chicks until 4:45 when she finds a piece of stashed pigeon in the box and feeds them, then resumes incubation. She takes a short flight at 7:00 and again ten minutes later. She looks out at 8:00 for five minutes, then sits on the ledge at 8:15 for ten minutes. With no meal yet to arrive, she flies out again at 9:25 but quickly returns. She leaves for ten minutes at 9:50, but still no meal. She flies out at 10:15 and returns at 10:55 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She feeds the chicks for 15 minutes and stashes the remains in the box. There is another 15-minute feed at 12:45 and she flies out to stash the remains. She takes another 10-minute flight at 14:30 and leaves again at 14:50 for 15 minutes with another 10-minute flight at 15:30. There has been no sign of the male so far today. At 15:45, she leaves and returns 30 minutes later with the previously stashed pigeon and feeds the chicks. She leaves with the remains at 16:45 and quickly returns. She is off again at 17:00 but does not return until 18:05, and she is off again at 18:20 and is back at 18:45. There is another 10-minute flight at 19:25, and 15-minutes at 19:40 when she returns wet and bedraggled, then remains with the chicks for the rest of the evening.
1 May – the cameras resume just after mid-day after being down since 12th April, during which time four eggs had hatched, most probably 3 on the 23rd and one on the following day. The female is sheltering the four chicks. She flies out at 13:30 and returns with part-eaten Feral Pigeon to feed them. The male arrives with more food at 14:00 and the female takes the meal from him. She feeds the chicks for 15 minutes, then flies out to stash the remains before returning to cover them. She looks out from the box at 15:45 and again ten minutes later and then at 16:10. She takes a short flight at 16:35, 16:40, 17:15, and again at 17:30. At 17:45, she flies out and doesn’t return until 18:10, no doubt looking for the male to provide food for the youngsters. She is off again ten minutes later for another ten minutes and returns to cover the chicks who were last fed at 14:00. More short flights were made at 18:50, 19:10, 19:15, and 19:20. At 19:35, she leaves for 15 minutes and returns carrying fresh partially-plucked Feral Pigeon prey which she feeds to the, by now, very hungry chicks. She leaves to stash the remains at 20:15 and quickly returns to incubate them until midnight.
APRIL 2026
12 Apr – unfortunately, in the early hours of the morning, the streaming service crashed and repairs were no able to be completed until mid-day on 1st May.
11 Apr – the male arrives at 5:25 for the first changeover of the day. She is back at 7:45 and he leaves. She takes a short flight at 13:00, no doubt to check his whereabouts after a kong session. He eventually returns at 15:30 and she flies out for a rest after an eight-hour shift. She is back at 18:40 and he flies off. He returns at 19:45 with scraps of Feral Pigeon. She takes the meal and flies off whilst he takes over incubation. She is back at 10:10 but sits on the ledge until 20:30 to resume her duties until midnight.
10 Apr – the female arrives at 2:00 to resume incubation and the male leaves. He returns at 6:00 and takes over. She is back at 8:30 and he flies out. She takes a short flight at 9:55. He returns for another incubation stint at 12:40 until flying out at 16:30 and being replaced. The male flies in at 19:05 with part-eaten Feral Pigeon for the female. He flies off and she feeds for a few minutes before leaving allowing him to return to incubate. She is back to resume at 19:55 and he flies out. She remains until midnight.
9 Apr – WATCH DAY – the male arrives at 5:35 and the female flies for the first changeover of the day. He leaves at 8:00 and she replaces him five minutes later. When we arrive at 9:30, the male is sitting on a spire cross. At 10:15, the male calls loudly and takes off as one of three passing Buzzards gets too close for comfort. The female walks to the ledge and watches as he dive-bombs the Buzzard out of the territory. He returns to the cross with a shake of triumph and a chortle. The female returns to the eggs after five minutes. The male lands on the ledge at 12:25 and takes over from the female a few minutes later. She sits on a cross on the spire until 13:00 when she flies eastwards. The male flies out at 14:50 and the female returns. The male is back on the ledge at 16:35, but the female ignores him and continues incubation. He flies off at 17:00 and returns at 19:45 for ten minutes. He is back again at 17:45 and this time the female allows him to take over and for the second time this season remains until midnight.
8 Apr – the male flies in at 5:05 and the female leaves immediately to allow him to take over. She is back at 6:35 and sits on the ledge. She then spots the stashed pigeon from the previous evening and feeds. The male flies out and she leaves with her meal at 6:55 but quickly returns. The male is back at 10:50 and replaces the female. She returns and resumes at 14:55. She flies out at 16:30 and the male lands a few minutes later to take over but he leaves after 25 minutes and she flies in to resume. She flies out at 19:20 just as the male lands with a pigeon meal. She is back a few moments later and snatches the meal from him and he leaves. She flies out with the pigeon a few moments later. She does not return until 20:20. This means the eggs have been left unattended for an hour. Whilst this is not an issue as the ambient temperature was quite high, it is unusual for the eggs to be left defenceless for so long. The female was obviously expecting the male to take over when she left but he didn’t get the message. She remains on the eggs until midnight.
7 Apr – the male flies in at 5:40 for the first changeover of the day. The female is back at 7:30 with a full crop and resumes incubation five minutes later. The male lands at 10:30 but quickly leaves. He is back at 14:00 for the next change until the female returns at 18:40. The male brings in Feral Pigeon prey at 19:55 and flies off. She feeds for five minutes, stashes the meal then returns to the eggs and incubates until midnight.
6 Apr – the male remains on the eggs from the previous evening until 1:05 when the female flies in to take over. The male returns at 4:40 until 5:55. The female remains on the eggs until 11:45 when she flies out looking for the male, but quickly returns. She runs to the ledge at 12:35 as the male flies in with a Feral Pigeon meal. She takes it and flies off and he incubates the eggs until she returns at 15:25. The male lands at 18:55 but the female ignores him, and he leaves ten minutes later, and she remains on the eggs until midnight.
5 Apr – the male remains, mainly sleeping, on the ledge from the previous night until flying off at 5:45. The female looks out from the ledge briefly at 7:05, no doubt looking for the male, then flies out at 8:55 as the male arrives for the first changeover of the day. She does not return until 14:20. She remains until 19:40 when she flies out and the male sits on the eggs, and for the first time this season remains until midnight. Note: This is the first time the male has incubated for more than 40% of the time this year, at 9 hours and 45 minutes.
4 Apr –the male arrives at 4:00 then takes over incubation at 5:55. He flies off at 8:25 and she returns to resume incubation. The male is back at 11:35 but the female remains tight so sits on the ledge. He takes a short flight at 11:45 and the female follows calling loudly – most probably an intruder in the area. He is back a few minutes later and takes over. She returns at 14:45 and he reluctantly allows her to replace him. He is back at 17:30 and she flies out. She lands at 18:50 and sits on the ledge until taking over at 19:05. He remains on the ledge until 19:40 when he flies off. He returns to the ledge at 21:55 and remains there until midnight.
3 Apr – the male lands on the ledge at 3:15 and falls asleep, whilst the female remains on the eggs. He flies off at 6:05. She takes a short flight at 8:00, no doubt looking for the male, and quickly returns to the eggs. The male returns to take over at 9:20. The female Is back at 13:20 and the male leaves. She flies out at 19:25 and he lands for a very late incubation session. She flies in at 21:10 and takes over for the rest of the evening, whilst he sits on the ledge and falls asleep until leaving at 23:45.
2 Apr – the female flies out at 5:55 and the male takes over. She is back at 10:25 for the next changeover. She flies out at 14:50 returning after ten minutes. The male flies in at 18:15 and the female leaves. He flies out at 19:05 but is back ten minutes later. He flies out again at 19:30 and is replaced by the female who remains until midnight.
1 Apr – the male arrives on the ledge at 3:40 and falls asleep. The first changeover is at 6:10 when the female flies out. She returns at 10:05 to resume incubation. She flies out at 11:35 and the male returns. Something catches his eye a few minutes later and he runs to the platform and looks up. He checks the sky but moves back to the eggs. The female flies in at 13:05 and the male relinquishes. He lands on the ledge at 15:15 for ten minutes, then brings in some scraps at 17:30, and she leaves with them as he covers the eggs. She returns at 20:00 and remains until midnight.