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 9th June at 09:30 – 13:30 – weather dependent.
Look out for additional dates.
May 2026
27 May – The female arrives at 1:40 and sits on the ledge whilst the youngsters remain huddled together in a corner of the box. They start to wake at 4:25 and 4AB sits in front of the female calling for ten minutes, then returns to the huddle. At 4:45, all four siblings beg at the female and she flies off. They then do exercises, wing flapping and preening. They are back in a huddle at 5:40. The female arrives at 6:05 with fresh Feral Pigeon prey. After a breather, she drags it into the box and feeds the chicks. They are full after 35 minutes and she flies out with the remains. She is back at 7:20 and feeds them scraps from the box for a few minutes, then flies out. They do their exercises and preening then settle in the corner of the box. The female lands briefly at 9:45 then returns with another pigeon a few minutes later. They have finished feeding by 10:10 and the female eats the remains and flies off at 10:30. The chicks spend ten minutes on the platform then move to the shade of the box. They get active again at 13:10 for 20 minutes, then huddle in the box. The female arrives with another pigeon meal at 14:10. They are back in the box at 14:50 with full crops and the female consumes what is left and flies out at 15:00. The chicks remain in the box with 4CB looking out from the platform at 16:30 for 20 minutes. The female arrives with a small scrap of pigeon at 17:55 but quickly leaves. The siblings then have a period of exercise and wing flapping. They are back huddling in the box at 19:30. They have another walkabout at 20:40 and feed on scraps. The female lands with fresh Feral Pigeon 15 minutes later. They have finished feeding at 21:20 and for the first time 4AB stands on the ledge – an important change in their development. They settle down in a corner of the box until midnight.
26 May – the chicks remain on the ledge and at 1:35 the female arrives with freshly-plucked pigeon. There is nothing left at 2:00 and she sits on the ledge. The chicks start getting active and she flies off at 4:15. They do wing exercises and preening, then resting on the platform or in the shade of the box. The female returns at 6:05 with fresh Feral Pigeon prey and feeds the chicks. She flies out with the remains 20 minutes later and is back at 7:55 and goes into the box. She, and the chicks are panting and drooping their wings due to the heat, even at this early hour. She flies off at 9:00 whilst the chicks remain in the shade of the box. 4DB looks out from the platform 30 minutes later. The female lands at 10:15 and spreads her wings trying to keep cool. The chicks call expectantly but she moves to the shade of the box, and they all settle down. She moves to the platform at 10:55, lies flat and spreads her wings but 4CB keeps begging and she flies off five minutes later. She is back at 11:15 with fresh Feral Pigeon prey and feeds the chicks. They have finished after 15 minutes, and she flies off. The settle down until 12:30 when they get active, roam around, wing flap and preen. The female lands briefly at 12:55. They settle again at 13:15 with just occasional forays around the box. The female is back at 14:55 with fresh Feral Pigeon prey which she takes into the box for the chicks. They have finished feeding at 15:20 and she flies out with the remains; the chicks settle down. The female is back with another Feral Pigeon at 18:10 -the fifth for the day. She is performing remarkably well without the help of the male. The meal has finished after 30 minutes, and she flies off. She returns to the ledge at 20:55 but leaves after a few minutes. The chicks huddle in the corner of the box at 21:50 until midnight.
25 May – the chicks remain on the platform until they go walkabout at 4:45, wing flapping and preening for 15 minutes, then settle in the box. The female arrives at 5:50 with very fresh Feral Pigeon prey and feeds the chicks. They have finished feeding at 6:35 and the female eats the remains. The chicks do some exercises and preening and the female flies out at 7:00. They huddle in the corner of the box a few minutes later. They start to get mobile at 10:05 stretching, flapping, running around and preening for an hour. The female is back at 11:20 without food. She checks the box, and the chicks surround her and beg, especially 4AB and 4CB who force her out of the box and from the ledge. The chicks settle down in the shade of the box. They get restless at 12:50 and move around the box. The female lands with fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 13:15. There is nothing left half an hour later. For the rest of the day, they wander between the box and platform doing wing-flapping exercises but also trying to keep cool in the heat and looking for scraps. They settle down on the platform at 23:15 until midnight.
24 May – 4AB joins its siblings on the ledge at 00:55. The female lands at 1:45 and goes into the box at 4:40 looking for scraps for them. She flies off ten minutes later. The youngsters do wing flapping exercises and preening, then settle in the box at 5:20. They start to move to the platform an hour later. The female lands at 7:35, checks the box then sits on the ledge and quickly flies off. She is back at 8:35 for ten minutes and flies in at 11:00 carrying another Feral Pigeon meal. 4AB tries to snatch it from her but she holds on to feed all the chicks. There is nothing left at 11:30 and she moves to the ledge and flies off 20 minutes later. She lands briefly after a few minutes obviously in hunting mode. They lie on the platform and box with occasional bouts of wing stretching/flapping and preening for the next six hours. They settle on the platform until the female arrives with another Pigeon meal at 19:05. The have finished feeding after 30 minutes so the female eats most of the remains on the platform, occasionally feeding a nearby/passing chick. She is back in the box with the scraps at 19:55, then leaves five minutes later. The chicks settle on the platform and remain until midnight.
23 May – the chicks remain around the platform/box and the female lands at 2:35. She flies off at 5:40. The male crash lands on the platform at 5:10 – perhaps the issue with his damaged eye is now causing him problems. He moves to the ledge and the chicks go into the box. They get mobile when they see the female fly in with a Feral Pigeon meal at 6:15. They feed in the box then 4CB goes to the male and begs for food by tapping on his beak and pecking at his feet. 4BB joins in the begging despite being well fed by the female; she flies off at 7:00. They settle on the platform a few minutes later. The male flies off at 7:35 and the chicks move into the shade of the box. The female is back at 8:15 with another Feral Pigeon meal. She flies out with the remains at 8:40 and returns ten minutes later and goes into the box. She moves to the ledge at 10:00 but returns to the box after 30 minutes. she is back on the ledge at 10:40 and flies off at 11:50. The chicks are split between the shade of the platform and the box. The female returns at 12:00 with the remains of a previous meal which she feeds to the chicks. They have finished feeding at 12:35 and then settle on the platform. She takes a short flight at 13:05 then leaves at 14:25 and returns at 14:50 with very fresh Feral Pigeon. They are well fed 30 minutes later, and the female feeds herself. She takes the meal into the box at 15:30 as the chicks lie on the platform. She flies off with the remains at 15:50. The female is back on the ledge looking well fed at 16:10 and the chicks move into the box at 16:35 and return to the platform after 20 minutes. She flies off at 17:30 and the chicks pancake on the platform. She is back at 18:10 for 25 minutes, then returns with another Feral Pigeon meal at 19:20. They feed until there is nothing left at 20:25 and she moves to the ledge and the chicks lie on the platform after some exercising and wing flapping. She flies off at 20:55. The chicks move into the box at 21:30. 4DB looks out from the platform at 21:55. All except 4AB lie on the platform at 23:15 and remain until midnight.
22 May – the female flies off at 00:25 and returns at 3:00 whilst the male remains in the box with the chicks. The female flies off at 4:30 and the male moves to the ledge ten minutes later as the chicks become mobile. They are back in a huddle at 5:00. The female arrives at 6:00 with fresh Feral Pigeon prey and feeds the chicks whilst the male watches from the ledge. They have finished feeding at 6:40, do some exercises and preening then settle on the platform. The female flies out at 6:45 and the chicks settle on the platform. The male flies out at 8:00 and the chicks move into the shade of the box. The female is back on the ledge at 9:20 and the chicks beg for food. She moves to the platform and stands with her wings open trying to keep cool in the heat whilst the chicks move to the shade. She is back to the ledge at 10:35 and flies off at 11:10. She returns with another Feral Pigeon meal at 12:15. There are just a few scraps left an hour later. The young settle on the platform until doing exercises at 14:45 and the female leaves a few minutes later. She lands briefly at 15:05 and the chicks call at her, then settle on the platform and occasionally visit the box. The male lands at 16:30 but they ignore him as he has not brought in food for some time. They remain on the platform and watch him fly off at 18:40. They roam the box and platform until 21:00 when they settle in the corner of the box. The female arrives at 21:45 and falls asleep in the box until flying out at 23:15.
21 May – the chicks wake and get mobile at 5:00 and the female flies off 20 minutes later. She is back at 5:55 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey. They have finished feeding at 6:40 and do wing flapping exercises and running around the box. The female eats the scraps, then sits on the ledge at 7:00. The chicks get mobile again at 8:40 whilst the female sits on the ledge. The male lands at 9:40 and the damage to his right eye appears to be getting worse. The chicks ‘pancake’ on the platform. The female flies off at 10:10. 4AB goes into the box at 10:40 and returns to its siblings after ten minutes. They all go walkabout, wing flap and preen from 11:30 until 12:00 when they huddle together. The male leaves at 12:40 and the chicks remain huddled until going into the box at 14:45. The female lands with fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 15:45. 4AB is the first to finish feeding and the meal is over at 16:25 when the female moves to the ledge. There is a period of wing flapping and preening until they huddle together at 17:00. The female leaves 45 minutes later. After a period of wing flapping and preening, they move into the box at 19:10 but get restless 20 minutes later. The male lands at 19:45 and the chicks beg for food, but he ignores them. They huddle on the platform. The female arrives at 21:25 but the chicks ignore her and move into the box ten minutes later. The male joins the chicks at 22:00 whilst the female remains on the ledge. He huddles with them until midnight almost as if he is part of the brood!
20 May – the chicks huddle in the box whilst the female remains on the ledge. The male arrives at 3:30 and goes into the box and huddles with the chicks. He moves to the ledge opposite the female at 4:55 and she flies off. She is soon back carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey and feeds the chicks. The male watches from the ledge for 15 minutes then tries to steal some scraps but she flies out with the remains; he leaves at 5:25. The chicks are very mobile and start wing flapping, then settle down in the corner at 5:35. The female lands with the pigeon remains ten minutes later, but quickly flies off. She checks on them at 6:20, then moves to the ledge and is joined by the male at 6:40. She flies off and quickly returns with another Feral Pigeon meal. The male watches from the ledge and two chicks beg at him at 7:15, but he ignores them and they walk away. The young have finished feeding five minutes later and he snatches the meal from the female and feeds. He has finished and moves back to the ledge at 8:05. The female arrives a few minutes later and takes the scraps of the meal to feed the chicks. The male leaves and returns at 8:40; the female joins him ten minutes later. The chicks start to get mobile again two hours later and search for scraps in the box. They are back in a huddle after 15 minutes. The adults watch from the ledge. At 10:25, the chicks are active again, wing stretching and walking around the box and platform looking for scraps. The adults ignore them and they are back in the huddle half an hour later. They are restless again at 12:15 and the female flies off followed by the male. She is back 15 minutes later with fresh Feral Pigeon prey and feeds the chicks until 13:00 when she flies off with the remains. She is quickly back and the chicks have a 20-minute exercise session, then settle down in the box. The male returns at 14:25 and moves close to the female; she flies off. He falls asleep on the ledge. The chicks become mobile at 15:35 for 25 minutes, then settle down. The female flies in at 17:40 with another Feral Pigeon meal. The male tries to snatch it from her but she initially holds on, then lets him take the meal and moves to the ledge. He feeds the chicks whilst at the same time feeding himself. The female snatches it from him at 18:25 and feeds the chicks; he moves to the ledge. There is nothing left at 18:45 and she sits on the ledge and flies off at 19:10. He leaves at 19:50. The female is back with the remains of a pigeon at 20:00 and they feed for 15 minutes, then she sits on the ledge. She picks at scraps in the box at 21:10 whilst the chicks huddle together then quickly returns to the ledge until midnight.
19 May – the female flies out at 00:25 and lands at 1:20. She moves into the box with the chicks at 2:45 and returns to the ledge at 3:50. The chicks start to get active at 5:25 but are huddled together again after just 20 minutes. The female returns to the box looking wet and bedraggled at 5:50. Despite the heavy rain, she flies out at 6:20 whilst the chicks huddle together. They start to get restless at 7:15 and the female flies in with very fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 7:35 and starts to feed the chicks. The male arrives a few minutes later and manages to steal a few scraps, then moves to the ledge. They have finished feeding at 8:15 and he steals a few more scraps. The female moves to the ledge and the male joins her at 8:25. She flies off a few minutes later and the chicks settle in the corner. She is back at 9:05 with fresh Feral Pigeon prey and feeds the chicks. The male steals some scraps at 9:15 and flies out with them and the female moves to the ledge. At 10:20, the female flies off as the four chicks were removed under licence to be colour-ringed, weighed and DNA swabs taken. All four were in good health. The orange colour rings are: 4AB weighed 730g, presumed to be a male; 4BB weighed 1048g; 4CB weighed 983g and 4DB weighed 978g – all three presumed to be female. They were quickly returned to the box and soon settled down in the corner of the box. The female checks the chicks at 13:30. She makes a number of flights over the next three hours and returns with fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 16:30. The male arrives on the ledge five minutes later and steals the remains from the female at 17:00 and feeds until 17:25 when the female flies off with the remaining scraps. She is back a few minutes later and sits on the ledge opposite the male. He flies off at 18:30 and she leaves at 19:05. She is back 30 minutes later for ten minutes and lands briefly at 19:40. She flies in at 20:00 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey. The male lands ten minutes later and watches from the ledge. She feeds the chicks and he tries to steal some scraps at 20:15 but the female holds on to the meal. He returns to the ledge by jumping over the chicks – an amazing feat considering his damaged eye. There is nothing left at 20:25 and the female moves to the ledge. The male flies off at 20:40 as she remains until midnight.
18 May – the male moves into the box with the chicks as the female flies out just after midnight. He returns to the ledge at 5:15. The chicks start to go walkabout at 6:40 and the male flies off at 7:10 when the female returns with fresh Feral Pigeon prey. There is nothing left 40 minutes later and the chicks huddle in the corner as the female sits on the platform, then moves to the ledge at 8:20. The male returns at 9:10 and calls to the female. His damaged eye appears to be slightly open today. He walks to the female and sits next to her and calls/begs to her like a juvenile. She flies off and returns with fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 10:10. She feeds the chicks whilst the male watches from the ledge. There is little left and one of the chicks feeds itself on some of the scraps. They huddle in the corner at 10:50 as the female looks out from the platform until flying off at 11:20; the male remains on the ledge. He flies off at 12:30 and returns at 14:15 whilst the chicks remain in the corner of the box. They start to get a bit more active at 15:30 when the male flies off. The female brings in another Feral Pigeon five minutes later. The male is back at 15:40 and steals the meal from the female, and she allows him to feed himself and he occasionally feeds the chicks. The female moves to the ledge at 16:05 and the male drags the pigeon remains towards her, and she takes it from him. He sits on the ledge as she feeds the chicks. He steals the scraps at 17:00 and the female flies out as the chicks huddle in the corner. They become active again at 19:00 and one finds some scraps and feeds on them. They settle down again until the female returns at 20:10. She finds a few more scraps and feeds them to the chicks, then sits on the ledge. The male flies into the box at 21:05 but flies out 20 minutes later. The female moves into the box at 21:40 remaining until midnight.
17 May – the female sits sleeping on the ledge from the previous evening. She awakens at 5:00 and flies off 15 minutes later. She is back after 30 minutes with very fresh Feral Pigeon prey. The male arrives a few minutes later and sits on the ledge. He tries to steal some of the meal from the female at 6:05. She allows him to feed, and she flies out. He has had his fill at 6:25 and leaves the remains on the platform, then sits on the ledge whilst the chicks huddle in the box. The female returns at 7:00, picks up the remains and feeds the chicks, ensuring they all receive a meal. They fall into a heap after feeding. The male flies off at 8:35 and the female moves to the ledge to look out. She flies out at 9:10 for 15 minutes. She checks for scraps at 9:55 which wakens the chicks. She leaves at 10:05 returning a few moments later but is off after a check of the chicks in the box. She returns to the ledge at 10:40 but soon leaves. The male lands at 12:50 and checks the box before returning to the ledge whilst the chicks remain huddled in the box. He joins the chicks at 15:15 and they start to beg for food at 15:30, so he moves back to the ledge until flying off at 16:45. The female arrives with fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 17:00 and feeds the chicks. The male lands 20 minutes later and the female allows him to steal the remains of the meal and she feeds scraps to the chicks whilst he mantles his meal. She moves to the ledge at 18:00 and he resumes feeding, then feeds the begging chicks, despite his poorly eye. She flies off at 18:25 and he moves to the ledge after the chicks finished the meal. The female is back at 18:55, picks up some scraps and feed the chicks. She flies out at 19:15 whilst the male remains on the ledge. She is back with fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 20:00, flying out with the remains 20 minutes later. She returns to the ledge opposite the male at 20:35. The female joins the chicks in the box at 21:20 and shelters from the rain and falls asleep; the male remains on the ledge until midnight.
14 May 2026 – NOTICE: you may have seen that the adult male has a poorly right eye. We have had a number of queries as to what we can do for it. Unfortunately, at this time it would be inappropriate to try and intervene. Capturing an adult Peregrine is problematic at the best of times and in doing so, we may put the lives of the juveniles in danger. At this stage, unless the bird is grounded, our only option is to monitor the situation.
8 May – the female remains with the chicks then moves to the ledge at 00:50 and flies off at 1:15. She is back on the ledge at 2:25 and returns to the chicks at 3:40. The male lands at 4:20 and the female forces him from the ledge then returns to the chicks. She is back on the ledge at 5:20 and flies off 15 minutes later returning after a few minutes with fresh Feral Pigeon prey and feeds the chicks. She leaves with the remains at 6:10 but quickly returns. She flies off briefly at 6:45 then sits on the ledge. The male lands with part-eaten pigeon prey at 7:00. The female takes it from him and feeds the chicks, flying out with the remains 25 minutes later. She is back after ten minutes and covers the chicks. She is off at 9:10 for 30 minutes, then sits on the ledge at 10:30 for 30 minutes, then flies off but quickly returns to the chicks. She leaves at 11:45 and is replaced by the male who feeds the chicks some scraps, then sits on the ledge until the female returns with remains of a previous meal at 12:35; there is nothing left after 15 minutes. She flies out at 12:55 and is back on the ledge briefly at 13:10. She returns with more scraps at 14:10 and feeds the chicks, then shelters them until she moves to the ledge at 13:40 for ten minutes, then flies out at 15:00. The male arrives at 16:10 carrying fresh Goldfinch prey – not a large meal to feed the chicks. He sits on the ledge a few minutes later and flies off at 17:00. The female is back at 17:15 with fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She flies out with the remains 30 minutes later and quickly returns to the chicks. She flies out again at 19:15 and is back at 20:50. She is off again at 22:55, returning to the platform at 23:10 watching the sky looking for night prey.
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 three on the 23rd April and one 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.