30 June – the female flies in at 3:00 and runs into the box on the arrival of the male 20 minutes later. There is calling and posturing between the pair. She settles in the box, he on the platform. After swapping places at 3:50, he flies out and she falls asleep. She wakens after 30 minutes and preens in the early morning sun, remaining until 8:20 when she flies off. The male is back at 11:00, remaining until 11:35. He returns at 13:20 until 15:50. He is back at 16:15 for an hour and again at 17:35 when he is sporting a full crop, falling asleep until 18:20 when he is rudely awakened by the arrival of the female with TFC in tow. He runs into the box and is followed by the female. He forces his way past the juvenile whilst the female is in the box with TFC calling loudly. It runs into the box and forces the female onto the ledge. TFC stands in front of her calling incessantly. The female flies off at 18:40 and is followed by TFC. At 20:00, the male flies in and sits on the platform until 21:25 when he is replaced by TFC. It takes a short flight at 21:30 then settles on the ledge for the evening remaining until midnight at least.
29 June – the female arrives at 4:35 and goes into the box and makes a few scrapes before settling on the ledge where she remains sitting in the morning sunshine until flying off at 8:45. The male flies in at 9:55 and briefly goes into the box before moving to the platform sunning his back, then moves to the ledge. A rather stupid Woodpigeon lands on the ledge at 10:10 and the male stretches his wings ready to pounce. The Woodpigeon sees its error and drops of the ledge. At 10:35, he is back on the platform stretching his wings to get the heat from the sun onto his feathers for a few minutes. He moves into the shade of the box at 10:50. He flies off briefly at 11:40 returning to the ledge which is now also in shade. He flies off at 12:30. The female arrives at 12:55 and is followed by TFC who chases her into the box calling. TFC forces her onto the ledge still calling. At 13:00, TFC runs at the adult and forces her from the ledge and flies off a few moments later. The male returns at 14:25, flying off 10 minutes later. The female returns at 15:35 and takes a quick look in the box at 16:05 then settles on the ledge, flying off after 10 minutes. The male is back at 18:10, leaves at 20:00 and returns 30 minutes later. He sits on the ledge until leaving at 23:05.
28 June – the male arrives at 4:25 and finds the stash left form the previous day. He does not eat it immediately but looks around the city, no doubt waiting for the juveniles to come. When none materialise, he sets about feeding. He flies off with the remains 15 minutes later. At 6:00, the female lands and is quickly followed by TFC. She goes into the box but is pursued by the calling juvenile. The adult sits on the ledge whilst TFC searches the box. There is no food, so it runs at the female forcing her from the ledge and the juvenile follows soon after. The male returns at 6:55 but flies out 10 minutes later. He is back with a Starling an hour later and followed by TFC. He starts to pluck it for the juvenile but is interrupted by the female. He flies off with the prey as the female and TFC watch him go. TFC then pushes the female from the ledge then searches the box and platform for scraps. There is none, so sits on the ledge looking out, flying off at 8:15. The male returns at 15:20 and goes into the box for a few moments then sits on the ledge, flying off soon after. The male is back at 21:40 leaving 10 minutes later.
27 June – the adult male arrives at 4:25 remaining until 5:05. A Feral Pigeon lands briefly at 12:40. The male is back at 18:25 remaining for 10 minutes. The female lands with a large Feral Pigeon 5 minutes later and is closely followed by TFC who snatches the prey her. The female insists on feeding the juvenile and TFC submits. It moves to the ledge at 18:55 and then the box whilst the female stashes the remains by the column. Both birds leave soon after.
26 June – the male arrives with a small item of pre-plucked prey at 10:45. He is followed by TFC who snatches it from him. He flies off whilst the juvenile eats. It must be well fed as TFC stashes the prey by the column after just 5 minutes and goes into the box. At 11:00, it goes to the ledge, looking out before flying off 5 minutes later. The female arrives with a Feral Pigeon at 11:20 and proceeds to pluck it. It takes a brief flight with the prey 5 minutes later probably looking for the juveniles. TFC obliges and the female feeds it. Ten minutes later and it is sitting on the ledge with a full crop. The female then feeds herself as TFC slides off the ledge! The adult flies out with the remains soon after.
25 June – TFC flies in at 6:00 and goes into the box. It checks out the ledge a few minutes later but it is raining heavily and so moves back to the box. A rather wet female arrives at 7:20 but without prey. TFC runs from the box and the female tries to find a few scraps to feed it. There is not much meat and the juvenile goes back into the box. It is so wet that even the female goes into the box to finish her scraps. Both birds fly out at 7:30. The female lands with a Feral Pigeon at 8:05 and is quickly followed by TFC. The female leaves the prey to TFC after 5 minutes. She is back on the ledge briefly a few minutes later. TFC has eaten enough by 8:25 and tries to drag the remains into the box, where TFC settles down to sleep in the corner. Over 2 hours later TFC wakens and sits on the ledge for a few minutes before finding the prey and starting eating again. It is back on the ledge at 11:00, then flies out. The male arrives at 11:35 and 11:45 with what may be the remains of the previous prey. After feeding on some of it, she takes it away at 12:00. A rather soggy male lands at 14:45 but flies off as the female arrives at 15:00. She leaves 15 minutes later. TFC flies in at 16:10 and looks around the box for food. It tries to settle on the ledge but it is very windy and is being blown about. It leaves at 16:25. The female returns at 17:05 and goes into the box followed quickly by TFC. The juvenile is very aggressive towards the adult and forces the female from the ledge. TFC leaves a few minutes later. Fifteen minutes later the female lands but is quickly forced off by the arrival of TFC. It moves into the box after 5 minutes. At 18:30, TFC leaves the box and looks out over the city. It finds a few scraps on the platform and takes them back into the box. It flies out at 18:40 returning 5 minutes later to the back of the box returning to the ledge at 19:15. It flies out at 19:25.
24 June – the female flies in at 4:10 and looks out over the city. She flies off at 4:25 but is back soon after with the male following closely. There is calling and posturing with the female settling on the ledge and the male in his ‘safe’ position behind the central columns. He flies out at 4:40. The torpedo arrival of TFC at 5:25 forces the female from the ledge. The juvenile searches for food then sits on the ledge but flies off after a few minutes. The male arrives at 5:35, leaving after 20 minutes.The female is back with another Feral Pigeon at 16:40 and looks around for her offspring. She starts to pluck it but there are no takers so she flies off with it at 16:50. A few minutes later she is back with TFC following behind who snatches the prey from the female that then flies off. TFC plucks and eats the prey on the platform and is full at 17:20 and moves to the ledge. It flies off at 18:10. The female is back at 18:35 and picks at the leftovers on the platform, flying out with them at 18:50.
23 June – TFC remains on the ledge during the evening flying off at 3:35. The female arrives with a Feral Pigeon as prey at 7:00 and is closely followed by TFC. The female plucks the meal and feeds it to the juvenile. TFC sits on the ledge 15 minutes later whilst the adult feeds on the remains. TFC watches the female then walks across and takes a wing to pick at. It flies off with it and is quickly followed by the adult carrying the rest of the meal. TFC is back at 17:05 and finds a scrap of prey on the platform to pick at. It moves to the ledge 10 minutes later and into the box at 17:30. It is back on the platform at 19:20 searching for food before sitting on the ledge then flying off at 19:30. The female arrives at 20:55 and picks at some scraps before settling on the ledge and leaving at 22:05.
22 June – TFC remains on the ledge from the previous evening until 4:10 when it flies off. It returns 40 minutes later with partially eaten prey. which it picks at on the platform. It has finished by 5:20 and sits on the ledge, flying out 5 minutes later. At 11:35, PAF pays a visit to the ledge before lying on the platform at 11:40. It lies with its head overhanging the ledge looking down on the traffic below in Guildhall Lane, flying off 15 minutes later to be replaced by TFC. After a few minutes, TFC flies out. TFC is back at 14:55 searching and picking at scraps before flying off at 15:10. At 14:15, the female arrives with a Feral Pigeon as prey with PAF attached to it! There is a bit of a wrestling match over the prey and the female eventually relents and allows PAF to mantle the meal and pluck it and she flies off. However, with all the kerfuffle, TFC notices the prey and flies in to grab a piece. It remains on the sidelines watching PAF pluck the meal, calling as it does so. After a few minutes, TFC takes over and grabs the prey from PAF. Plucked feathers are blowing like a snow storm. They attack the meal in tandem at 16:25 neither wanting to let go. The female arrives at 16:40 and watches the show from the ledge, the male following a few moments later. He soon leaves whilst she feeds on a few scraps left on the platform. TFC relents at 16:45 and PAF continues feeding. TFC pushes the female from the ledge three times within a few minutes – still demanding to be fed. At 16:55, PAF leaves what scraps are left in the box and settles on the opposite ledge to TFC. The male lands at 17:00 and looks interested in the remains but PAF soon chases him away! Both juveniles look well-fed with large crops. TFC flies off at 17:25, with PAF leaving a few minutes later. The female arrives at 17:35 and grabs the remains of the prey and eats it on the platform. The male arrives 15 minutes later but the female mantles the meal, there is calling between the pair but she is not about to share it. At 18:05, he goes into the box but only as a diversion and has a quick lunge at the prey. The female sees him coming and jumps at him; he retreats. There is a lot of calling, especially by the female but he continues to sit on the ledge watching. He flies off at 18:15 and the female continues with her meal, flying off with the remains at 18:30. The male returns a few minutes later and searches the platform for some scraps. There is little left and he flies out after 5 minutes. TFC is back at 18:50 and sits on the ledge for a few minutes then wanders around the box looking for food but there is none. The male arrives at 19:00 and there is calling between the two birds with TFC pushing him from the ledge, followed quickly by the juvenile. At 20:45, PAF is back also looking desperately for scraps around the box and platform, finally giving up at 21:00 and settling on the ledge. It flies off 15 minutes later. TFC is on the ledge for 10 minutes from 21:50 but flies out strongly after something catches its eye. It is back at 22:20 and remains until midnight at least.
Unfortunately, due to a technical issue, there are no recordings available to review between 19th and 22nd June.
19 June – TLC Update: in the afternoon of the 19th, TLC was spotted on the central reservation of Vaughan Way. A member of the public tries to capture her but she flew off under her own steam. She was later seen on City Centre CCTV near Nandos in The Highcross walking towards the Cathedral. Later in the evening, she was found outside Mark Jarvis bookmakers on High Street. She was collected by a member of the RSPCA and taken to a local vet. When collected from the Veterinary Centre on the afternoon of 22nd, TLC looked extremely fit and alert. The Vet said he could find nothing physically wrong with her and so she was returned to the Cathedral at about 4.10pm. Her first flight was strong, taking her to half way down St Martins Walk. The adult female was over her later (at about 5.05pm) just before she took off again towards High Cross, again looking very strong in flight. Despite further searching she was lost to sight soon after this. If you see her, please let us know.
18 June -PAF and TFC remain huddled together on the ledge through the night until 4:25 when there is a wing flapping competition running around the central column. During the exchange, PAF accidentally falls off the ledge and flies away; TFC watches him go, then falls asleep at 5:05. It is awake at 5:30 and after another flapping session, takes to the air and flies out 20 minutes later. The male arrives with a small item of prey at 8:35 and looks around for one of the juveniles to feed it to. He takes it with him at 9:10. TLC Update: a phone call at 21:00 on Monday 17th, informed me that despite its very strong second flight, TLC was found grounded by the Guildhall. This happens frequently in urban sites. Juveniles don’t quite have the muscle strength to get enough uplift from the ground. It was quickly captured and taken for assessment overnight. It looked strong and healthy despite its adventures and returned to the platform on Tuesday morning at 9:35. TLC goes onto the platform and looks out over the city. At 10:05, it looks around the box for food. Finding none, it starts to preen and settles on the platform. There then follows a period of wing flapping until it is joined by TFC at 10:55. There is a greeting between the siblings and TLC settles on the platform at 11:30 with TFC on the ledge. The male arrives with a small prey item at 11:40 and TLC immediately relieves him of it, taking it into the box; the adult leaves. TFC tries to grab a piece by TLC mantles the meal and refuses to share. TFC sees an opportunity and snatches a small piece from the foot of TLC at 11:50. TFC comes back for more and manages to secure another bit from TLC. There is nothing left and both birds settle down; TFC on the ledge and TLC on the platform. PAF flies in a few minutes later. TLC chases PAF around the central column and stands on its tail. PAF will not be bullied and jumps at TLC, in doing so accidentally forces TFC from the ledge but returns a few moments later. They finally settle down on the platform lying together at 12:10. All three juveniles are puddled together on the platform at 13:30. After another bout of bullying by TLC on both PAF and TFC, it eventually settles on the platform lying with PAF at 14:50 whilst TFC is on the ledge. Just 10 minutes later, all three are running around looking for scraps again. There is a wing flapping frenzy at 15:10 until the female arrives with another Feral Pigeon as fresh prey. Initially, TFC gets a hold of it but the female is too strong and TFC has to let go but has another try and this time the female leaves it. There is the a tussle withTLC who grabs it and wins out. A few minutes later, TFC joins in the plucking of the meal whilst PAF sits on the ledge watching. They are soon into the meat but PAF just watches. PAF finally joins in at 15:25 and all three siblings enjoy the feast. TLC is first to leave the meal and goes on to the platform and picks at its feet leaving TFC and PAF at the carcass. PAF takes control and drags the food away from TFC who goes and sits on the ledge. There is little left when all three have had their fill at 15:55. A few minutes later, the female arrives and TLC runs towards her and pecks at her neck. The adult runs into the box and is pursued by PAF. She picks up the remains of the meal and starts to feed TLC. Despite a full crop, after a few minutes TFC wants a piece of the action and snatches a few morsels for itself. Soon, all three are being fed by the adult. When it has all gone, she is chased off by PAF. The three siblings huddle together on the platform at 16:40 and fall asleep. They are up and around again at 17:20 with TFC looking around the box, TLC on the platform and PAF on the ledge who joins TFC in the box 10 minutes later. There is wing flapping and chasing at 17:35 by TFC and PAF whilst TLC looks for more food! All three remain on the platform until 20:30 when PAF decides to fly off. This spurs TLC into a few minutes frenzy of wing flapping. TFC falls asleep at 20:40. It’s just after this time that the recording issue arises. Please see above.
17 June – PAF remains sleeping on the ledge until rudely awakened by the arrival of the adult male at 4:10 who leaves soon after. At 4:35, PAF does a few wing flapping exercises and picks a scraps left on the platform. He moves to the opposite ledge at 4:50 before flying off at 5:10 and returning after 10 minutes. He is picking at scraps again at 6:20 and then lies flat on the platform at 6:30 returning to the ledge 30 minutes later. The adult male arrives with prey at 7:15 and PAF runs towards him and grabs the Starling. He takes it into the box and mantles it; the adult flies off. PAF starts to pluck and eat his meal. He stashes the remains by the column 30 minutes later and sits on the ledge dozing. At 8:00, he moves sides and watches the movement around him. At 8:15, the adult male brings in another Starling and PAF runs towards him. The adult plucks the prey but as PAF waits patiently, in flies TFC who grabs the meal from the adult and runs into the box with it. PAF sits on the ledge calling whilst TFC mantles the prey feeding itself. As it fed well earlier, PAF does not look concerned about not feeding, makes no attempt to take the meal from TFC and falls asleep. TFC moves to the platform after feeding at 9:00. The two siblings have a bit of a tete-a-tete at 9:15 before settling on the ledge and fall asleep. The adult male comes in with more prey at 9:35 and this time it is PAF who gets there first and takes the prey into the box. In a role reversal, TFC sits on the ledge and makes no attempt to steal the prey and is joined by PAF at 9:45 who falls asleep. They huddle together and there is a bit of mutual preening at 10:50. PAF then lies on the platform and falls asleep at the feet of TFC who preens. At 12:15, TFC walks around picking at some scraps on the platform and is joined by PAF 15 minutes later. They then do some wing flapping before settling on opposite sides of the ledge at 12:40. PAF then moves back to the position lying at the feet of TFC at 13:05. They are both preening at 13:40 but PAF soon resumes his position. They are both looking for scraps an hour later then sitting on the ledge at 14:50. They are watching action overhead intently at 15:20 and PAD is back in his prostrate position 10 minutes later but back on the ledge after an hour. They are both frantically flapping at 16:40 and a few minutes later, the adult female arrives with a pigeon. There is a tussle between the two siblings for possession and both emerge with a piece of the prey. PAF goes into the box and TFC on the platform; the female flies off. There is another tussle when PAF tries to snatch a larger piece of the prey; TFC wins out. PAF sits watching as TFC has its fill and then takes the remains of the prey. The female arrives at 17:20 and surveys the situation. After a few minutes, she takes the prey from PAF and feeds TFC thus ensuring that it has had a meal. Having already fed well, TFC walks away after a few minutes and PAF has his turn. When finished, the two juveniles sit together on the ledge and fall asleep. At 18:00, the adult male arrives but is chased off by PAF who then resumes its prostrate position by TFC and both fall asleep. Their slumber was disturbed at 18:20 by the arrival of the male with more food. PAF was first in line to feed. The male leaves at 18:30 and both juveniles fall asleep on the ledge; their crops show they have been well fed. TFC looks for scraps at 20:35 before returning to the ledge. They spend the rest of the evening, preening and snoozing huddled together on the ledge.
16 June – TLC is sleeping on the platform until 00:20 when she goes into the box but is on the ledge 20 minutes later. A very restless night. From 3:00, she walks along the ledge spreading her wings and flapping until 4:20 when she steadies herself before launching strongly into flight over the rooftops of the city. The adult male flies in with a Starling at 7:35 and seems surprised the box is empty; he soon flies off. He is back again briefly at 8:30. At 11:40, the female arrives and retrieves one of the pieces of prey remaining on the ledge and eats it. When she has finished, she picks up a smaller piece and eats that too. She stashes a third piece by the column before settling on the ledge, leaving at 13:20. The female arrives with a Little Ringed Plover at 14:00, looks around the box and then over the city before flying out but is soon back, still with the prey. She then flies out over the city. The male is back at 14:20 and picks at the stash left by the female. He flies off with it as the female lands and she calls loudly. The male lands briefly but it scolded by the female and leaves. She sits on the ledge preening and looking out over the city before flying off at 16:30. She returns with a large pigeon 10 minutes later and plucks it on the platform. When complete, she flies out with it at 16:55 with immediately returns with it. She is off again at 17:00. The male flies in with scraps of Starling 5 minutes later and walks into the box. He the proceeds to make a couple of small scrapes in the stones. This is exactly what happened when the chicks fledged in 29018 and the nest box was empty. Hopefully, an early sign that they are happy with the location and will used again next year. He moves to the ledge then flies off at 18:35. At 21:00, PAF lands on the ledge, the first juvenile to return to the nest site. It picks at some scraps on the platform and looks in the box before settling on the ledge. He falls asleep at 22:20 remaining until midnight at least.
15 June – the female remains on the ledge until approached by TLC at 1:05 looking for food. TLC tries to push her from the ledge but she just moves to the opposite side. TLC watches her from the platform but tries again at 1:35; the adult swaps sides again. TLC lies down beside the adult who flies off at 1:50 but TLC remains on the platform then moves to the ledge at 3:30. The female flies in at 4:50 without food and TLC runs at her and forces her off. There is another wing flapping session at 6:30 before TLC returns to the ledge. It starts searching for food at 7:35 and finds a few scraps left over and feeds on them. It settles in the box at 7:45 but not even the arrival of the male with food 5 minutes later spurs it into action. The male flies out with the meal whilst TLC sleeps. It moves to the ledge at 8:50. When the male returns with prey at 10:10 it begs for food. Strangely, when the female arrives a few moments later, it ignores the male, runs to the female and forces her from the ledge! On seeing this, the male retreats to the ledge and when approached by TLC, flies off with the prey. He is back a few minutes later but the aggressive approach of TLC forces him to fly off again. TLC walks around the box then settles on the ledge at 10:40. At 11:20, it finds some scraps in the box and feeds on them before returning to the ledge. The female arrives with a large item of prey at 13:00; she feeds TLC before leaving it with the prey remains 10 minutes later and flying off. After moving around the box and platform, TLC lies on the platform at 14:20 and remains until 15:15 when it goes and feeds on the prey for 10 minutes. It then settles in the box until 15:45 when it is attracted by the arrival of the male. However, as soon as it runs towards the adult, he flies off; safety first! TLC sits on the ledge then lies on the platform at 16:05 until 17:30. It walks around the platform, flapping its wings then preening. There is more flapping activity before it settles on the ledge at 19:00. At 19:45, the female arrives with a Feral Pigeon and TLC runs towards her. She flies off with the prey and TLC moves back to the ledge. There is a short period of wing flapping at 20:00 before settling back on the ledge. It starts to snooze at 21:05 and then moves to the box at 21:20 pick at some scraps en route. It is back on the ledge at 21:35 after a runs around the box and platform.
14 June – with TLC back in the box after its brief trip along Silver Street, the adult female was on the ledge from the previous evening. Strangely, TLC moved to the section just before the platform at 00:35 and laid prostrate by the column, moving back into the box at 2:55. It is back 10 minutes later and stands in front of the sleeping female. A few minutes later, it walks up to the female and stands beside her by the ledge. TLC spends some time preening before moving back into the box at 3:30. The juvenile makes a brief visit to the platform at 4:00, then tries to head-butt the female from the ledge 5 minutes later. She moves to the opposite side and the juvenile follows pick up some scraps of a previous meal en route and eventually forces the female off. It sits on the ledge looking over the city. It spends the next three hours preening and snoozing. At 7:40, it spends a few minutes flapping and stretching its wings. It becomes a little more active walking around looking for prey but spends most of the time on the ledge. At 8:55, the female arrives with a partially eaten pigeon but before the juvenile had the opportunity to eat, the female flew off with it. She may have been trying to entice the young out of the box again. There are a few minutes of flapping practice before it settles back on the ledge. It moves into the box at 9:25 remaining until 10:50 when it returns to the ledge. It has a flapping session at 11:30 and then picks at some remains on the platform. There is more flapping at 12:00 followed by a preening session. The female returns with the pigeon at 13:05 and this time feeds the youngster. She stashes the remains by the column 15 minutes later and flies off. A few minutes later, the ale arrives and tries to steal the stash but TLC does not let him pass and he flies off. The juvenile returns to the ledge and watches the street below. At 14:05, it lies down on the platform with its head on the ledge and falls asleep. At 14:50 it is raining and TLC is standing on the ledge and has a brief flapping session 10 minutes later and again at 16:20. It picks at some scraps at 16:40 but the female arrives with a fresh pigeon at 16:|50. It is now noticeable how close in size and stature the juvenile is to the adult and our guess that TLC is a female seems correct. The adult feeds her chick but the male arrives with a meal of his own (a Starling) at 16:55 and TLC takes it from him and he flies off. The female thinks about stashing the second pigeon (the remains of one is still by the column) but flies off with it at 17:00. However, she is back a few minutes later to continue feeding her offspring, leaving after 5 minutes. At 17:15, the juvenile walks to the stashed prey and looks at it but does not eat. Instead, it goes into the box before returning to the ledge. It spends the next hour preening with the occasional wing stretch and flap. At 18:35, it starts to pick at the Starling left by the male but quickly give up. It has another attempt at 19:05 and for the first time, manages to get to the meat of the prey. It has had enough 10 minutes later and is back on the ledge. Considering the slip just the day before, it feels confident enough to stand on one leg! It has another brief attempt at the Starling at 19:55 before commencing some flapping exercises and returning to the ledge. At 20:25, the female arrives with a pigeon and feeds the youngster but flies off 5 minutes later. TLC then proceeds to have a few more flapping sessions before settling on the ledge dozing. It moves into the box at 21:40 but just 15 minutes later, it is back on the platform picking at the Starling again. A few minutes later, it is back in the box. The female lands at 22:15 and is greeted by the youngster who stands in front of her calling. The female hops to the opposite ledge but is followed by the juvenile. It pushes the female from the ledge but she returns immediately. The adult changes position again and is followed by the chick but at 22:25, it gives in and returns to the box. The adult falls asleep at 23:50 and settles down for the night.
13 June – PAF and TLC run to the platform at 4:40 and do some wing flapping. They then run around the column a few times before settling on the ledge. At 4:55 whilst preening on the ledge, TLC slips and flies off down Guildhall Lane; PAF watched it go. PAF remains on the ledge until 7:05 when it has a wing flapping session then finds some scraps. The male arrives with food at 7:10 and feeds it, flying off after 5 minutes. PAF goes back to the ledge and the male flies in again at 7:50 and feeds the remaining chick on the scraps it can find before flying out a few minutes later. A ‘phone call alerted me to TLC being grounded outside ASK restaurant on Silver Street. It was rescued and returned to the ledge for a second attempt at a later date. During the transfer, PAF flew made it maiden flight. On searching, it was found on the roof of Case Restaurant on Hotel Street. Although damp from the inclement weather, it looked fit and healthy. TLC picks at the scraps on the platform. The male is back at 12:20 with more food for TLC, flying off after a few minutes leaving the prey for it. It then spends a lot of time preening on the platform. The female arrives at 14:30 with a Feral Pigeon but leaves with it soon after, so TLC picks at the scraps. It lies down on the platform at 14:50 until 16:20 when it has another wing flapping session. It is back lying down at 17:25 remaining until the male arrives with another meal which he feeds to TLC. The male leaves at 18:00 and TLC goes into the box 10 minutes later and settles down for the night until the female arrives with more food. She feeds the youngster, then flies off at 21:40 with TLC going into the box. She is back at 21:55 and settles down for the evening.
12 June – TLC and PAF remain in the box until 4:55 when they search the area for food. There is a bit of wing flapping and running around. PAF is sitting on the ledge at 5:20 looking out whilst TLC is in the box. The female brings in a meal at 6:50 and TLC is first to be fed; PAF continues to look out over the city. PAF joins the feast 5 minutes later and the female flies out. Both young sit on the ledge for a few minutes before TLC goes back to the box; PAF remains. They are both on the ledge or platform at 7:55 and are very restless. PAF sets about eating at 8:25 then returns to the ledge with TLC and falls asleep. TLC finds the prey at 9:25 and feeds, moving back to the ledge 20 minutes later. PAF has another feed at 10:35 then returns. A fresh Feral Pigeon is brought in by the female at 11:05 and she feeds both young, leaving with the remains after 10 minutes. There is a wing flapping session at 13:30 before returning to the ledge. At 14:20, PAF lies on the platform and is joined by TLC. There is more exercising at 15:50 and TLC has more of the prey at 16:40, then lies on the platform at 17:30 with PAF on the ledge. TLC returns to the box at 18:50 whilst PAF picks at scraps 10 minutes later. The female arrives at 19:40 without food and is greeted by the 2 remaining chicks. She finds a few scraps and feeds them to the young. When they have finished, the female tries to settle on the ledge but is forced off by the begging chicks 3 times in quick succession. The two then have a bout of wing flapping; PAF in particular who then sits on the ledge. Both young are in the box at 20:25. The female is back at 21:35 and is greeted by the chicks but PAF forces her from the ledge again. They return to the box; the weather is wet and windy.
11 June – it rains all night and the chicks huddle together in a corner of the box and the female does not visit the ledge. The chick start to stir at 4:40 and TFC is first to venture onto the platform 10 minutes later. It has a look for stashed prey but returns to the box. TLC makes a half-hearted effort at 5:05, but does not get past the centre columns. It tries again at 5:50 with the same result. Admittedly, the weather is not good. It has a few wing flaps in the box. TFC has a walkabout and wing flap at 6:35 and ventures onto the platform 5 minutes later. The female arrives a few minutes later and all three run towards her and she flies off. PAF takes the opportunity to wing flap but all are back in the box soon after. The male arrives empty-handed at 8:50 and attracts the three chicks but he leaves immediately. TFC remains on the platform a little longer and does some wing flapping. It is very wet and windy but TFC makes another couple of visits to the platform to practice with its wings. At times it is on its toes or leaving the ground. PAF also makes a few visits. TLC is the most reluctant and does most of its wing stretching in the box. TFC is on the ledge looking down for a few minutes at 9:10 and PAF pays a short visit. TFC is back out at 9:30. It is much the more active and adventurous this morning. They settle down again for an hour until TFC has another flapping session at 10:35. PAF and TLC are out looking for food at 10:55 but it is noticeable that TLC does not go onto the platform to get wet but returns to the box. PAF sits on the ledge for a few minutes.TFC is restless and back on the platform flapping. TLC eventually leaves the box, albeit briefly, at 11:05 looking for food. They settle down again until 12:25 when TFC searches for food. It is joined by PAF who also does some wing exercises. TLC remains in the box, takes two steps out and returns immediately! TFC starts a period of vigorous wing flapping and is watched by PAF who moves to the ledge. After a full 5 minutes non stop, it joins PAF. The two sit there looking down on the street below. At 12:45, the start calling in anticipation of an adult arriving but they fly past. TFC remains on the platform flapping and this time TLC watches. After a few minutes, TFC jumps onto the back of TLC before walking into the box. TLC was somewhat surprised. TFC returns to the ledge and after 30 seconds opens its wings and flies off, TLC watching it go – the first to fledge this year. TLC runs to the opposite ledge and looks out for its sibling and then walks into the box to join PAF. A few minutes later, PAF is on the platform flapping. TLC sits on the ledge briefly at 13:15. At 13:25, the male arrives but without food. There have been no food deliveries today so far. This could either be due to the weather (rather inclement) or is also a tactic used by the adults to entice the young to fledge. They may even fly by with food but not deliver. The male soon leaves and the two remaining chicks return to the box. The chicks are obviously hungry and look for scraps and peck at anything resembling food but soon huddle together in the corner. At 13:55, the first delivery arrives in the form of a Starling brought in by the male. The female is not far behind. PAF grans the meal and takes it into the box and mantles its prey and plucks it. Both adults fly off. TLC tries to wrestle the prey from PAF but PAF is to feisty and keeps control. TLC stands in the corner of the trying not to look. It plucks up the courage to have another attempt at 14:10 but PAF will just not let go. Eventually after a few more minutes scuffle, TLC secures they prey but after 5 minutes, leaves it in the box and neither chick attempts to eat it; maybe the have not quite perfected the technique. However, at 15:10, the female arrives with a large Feral Pigeon and she feeds both young. After 20 minutes, she stashes the remains by the column and the chicks go into the box. She flies out. There is little activity until 16:50 when they venture onto the ledge. Whilst PAF has a wing flapping bout, TLC picks at the stashed prey, then drags it into the box. PAF continues to walk around and exercise and is eventually joined by TLC at 17:10. It is the best part of the day but they are back in the box at 18:00. Thirty minutes later PAF grabs the remains of the pigeon and starts eating. Both young are on the platform looking up at 19:00, PAF wing stretching. They settle down again 5 minutes later. At 20:30, the female arrives and feeds the Starling and pigeon to the chicks. At 20:45, she stashes the Starling and flies out. PAF does more exercises and checks on the Starling on its way back to the box. They huddle together through the night.
10 June – the female wakens on the ledge at 4:20 but the young are still sleeping inside the box; they have had a fairly quiet night – not too much movement. The chicks start to become active at 4:45 when PAF stretches its wing and runs towards the female looking to be fed. It is soon joined by TFC who also has a wing flapping session, whilst TLC stays in the box. After a few minutes TLC joins and all three stand in front of the female begging. She flies off and they watch her go. TLC has a period of wing flapping. They all return to the box at 5:05. The male flies in with what appears to be a Sand Martin at 5:45 and TFC grabs it from him and takes it into the box. PAF watches and looks for an angle to pinch a piece but TFC keeps it well guarded. TLC joins in and TFC runs around the platform dragging the prey behind. The tow chasers eventually give up and allow TFC to eat in peace, albeit under the watchful eye of PAF; TLC goes back to the box. At 6:05, PAF manages to sneak in and snatch the prey from TFC who decides not to fight back and having fed, sits on the ledge. The female is back at 6:20 before PAF has finished eating, all three check to see whether a meal is on offer but when there is none, PAF runs back with its prey and continues eating whilst TFC returns to the ledge and TLC to the box. PAF finishes eating at 6:30 and as there is nothing left, joins TFC before moving to the box at 6:40. A few minutes later, TFC is also in the box. PAF and TLC have a 10 minute visit to the platform and at 7:10 the female arrives empty-handed again. She is greeted by the three begging chicks and flies off immediately. TFC goes back to the box whilst the others stay on the platform looking out over the city. At 8:05, they are all on the platform taking turn to do their wing exercises before a preening session. At 8:15, TFC and TLC are on the ledge with PAF in the box. There is another exercise session at 8:30. At 8:40, both the male and female arrive; the male with another Sand Martin that TLC quickly relieves him of. The female has no food and the male flies off. There is a kerfuffle and TFC manages to take the prey off TLC. The female tries to intervene but decides safety rather than valour and flies out. TLC retains the prey but is pursued by PAF who manages to hold onto the prey for a few minutes and take a few bites from before TLC wrestles it away. At 9:00, PAF and TFC are on the ledge with TLC in the box. TFC is dozing at 9:10 but in the box 10 minutes later. TLC moves to the platform at 9:35 and sits on the opposite ledge to PAF. TFC joins them briefly at 10:00. They are all back in the box at 10:20 and remain there until 11:35 when the female arrives with a Feral Pigeon. She feeds all three chicks. By 11:55, they have had their fill and despite the female trying to continue feeding them, PAF and TLC refuse to take anything further from her. The female is relentless and eventually TLC gives in but walks away at 12:10. The female finishes off the remains. The male arrives ay 12:15 and is greeted by the chicks. As they have been refusing food for being too well fed, I assume it was just to say “Hello”. Strangely, TFC walks right up to him and forces him from the ledge. The female walks around the platform picking up scraps of food and trying to feed them to the chicks; only TLC has any room left. She flies off at 12:25 and the young go into the box as the weather is wet and windy – not ideal conditions to be considering your first flight. Their next excursion onto the platform is two hours later when PAF and TFC do some wing flapping for 5 minutes before returning. TLC takes a walk at 14:40 and stands on the platform looking out over the city for a few minutes. All are back in the box at 14:45. TFC has another few minutes flapping at 15:00 with PAF and TLC 20 minutes later. They are all back in the box soon after. PAF takes a brief look out at 16:55 and TFC at 17:05. All three are a bit more active now and TLC finds a scrap that the female missed earlier. They settle in the box again at 17:15 until 17:35 when TFC sits on the ledge looking at the street below for 10 minutes. PAF has another brief look out at 18:00. There is a wing flapping session at 18:50 and they take it in turns to stretch on the platform. They settle down 20 minutes later and PAF sits on the ledge until 19:30. The male flies in with a large pre-plucked item of prey at 20:05 but has it taken from him by the arriving female. The male flies off and the three young run towards the female and they are all fed. TLC manages to find a piece of its own and takes it into the box. There is nothing left at 20:15 and the female flies out. PAF and TFC return to the box where they join TLC and remain until midnight at least. The female does not return to the ledge this evening.
9 June – the female remains on the ledge until 00:35 when she flies off. The young remain in the back of the box until the male arrives at 4:20 when they greet him looking for food. PAF is first to do its morning exercises before returning to the box. TFC has a brief spell and joins PAF followed by TLC some 10 minutes later. There is then a period of serious preening. TLC is back on the platform at 4:50 looking out expectantly for a few minutes. TFC is out at 5:10 returning to the box at 5:25. Not to be out-done, PAF is next out at 5:50 and does some wing flapping but is soon back in the box. There is another burst of activity at 6:05 by PAF and it is joined by its siblings. TFC takes its usual position on the ledge looking down on the street below. PAF then joins it whilst TLC is happier on the platform. When TFC moves top the opposite side, TLC walks up to it and nibbles its feet and puts its head into TFC’s chest trying to force it off the ledge. TFC hops onto the platform. The activity mounts at 6:30 with all three flapping whilst running and jumping around the area. They settle down on the platform in the morning sunshine after 15 minutes. At 8:00, a pre-plucked item of prey is dropped from the sky onto the platform by one of the adults. This is the first time I have seen this technique adopted. TFC is the first to react and takes the prey into the box and protects it from the others. PAF realises something happened and watches its sibling eating whilst TLC remains on the platform. PAF makes no attempt to interfere with TFC’s meal. At 8:20, TFC has had enough and looks to want to stash the remains but is seen by TLC who wrestles the prey it. Being the largest of the young, TLC overpowers TFC and takes control whilst PAF lies on the platform. It does not take long for TLC to finish the remains and all three are on the platform when the female arrives with a Feral Pigeon at 8:30. TFC is first in and tries to grab the prey but the female feeds them all. Things get complicated when the male arrives with prey at 8:50. The female allows him to feed the chicks and flies off. All the young are well fed and TLC goes into the box whilst TFC and PAF sit on the ledge. Thirty minutes later, TLC joins them by lying on the platform next to where they are sitting. PAF steps off the ledge and starts to preen TLC before lying with its head on TLC’s back and falls asleep in the sunshine. At 9:35, TLC is back in the box and is joined by TFC leaving PAF on the ledge. By 10:15, they are all lying in the sunshine asleep; PAF and TFC together and TLC on the opposite side of the central column. TFC is the most restless and is frequently on its feet, looking out or stretching its wings. At 11:25, TLC goes over to the others and stands on the wing of PAF and tries to pull feathers from it. I am sure this is not the typical mutual preening as PAF jumps up and runs off. Ten minutes later, TLC drags the remains of the pigeon left by the female earlier in the morning and starts to pluck it in a manner similar to that it was using on PAF. TFC then has a go at 11:45 and PAF has a wing flapping session. After a few minutes, PAF tries to sneak a few morsels from TFC. Initially it allows a share but then tries to take it into the box. PAF grabs hold of it and steals it from TFC who moves to the ledge. TLC walks over to TFC and nips it on the legs and tail and TFC moves away. PAF drags the meal into the box at 12:15 and continues eating for another 20 minutes. It stashes what little remains by the column and TLC investigates but all three are well fed and cannot feed any more. PAF joins the other on the ledge. TFC has a feed on the remains at 13:20 with TLC on the platform and PAF in the box. All three are back on the platform lying in a heap at 13:45 but again TFC is the most restless and prefers to snooze on the ledge. It rejoins the others at 14:30. The arrival of the female at 14:45 breaks up the group. She looks around for prey and finds the remains of the earlier pigeon but there is little left so she leaves it in the box and returns to the ledge before flying off. There is a 45 minute period of activity during which TLC and TFC try to get more calories out of the pigeon remains and all three birds run around flapping. They are all settled again at 15:30 but 20 minutes later it is PAF’s turn to try and squeeze something form the pigeon. They cannot be hungry as their crops are full. PAF then has a major flappercise which attracts the attention of TLC but it retreats quickly. The female is back at 16:00 but still empty handed and immediately flies off. She returns a few moments later but still without prey, and goes into the box. She tears what she can from the pigeon and feeds it to PAF and then TLC. She has to jump over the chicks to make her escape after being cornered in the box. There is another 10 minute period of running and flapping, then they are back on the platform and lying in a heap at 16:45 and fall asleep. They are awake at 17:00 and another period of extensive flapping takes place. Things have settled down again 20 minutes later: TFC is on the ledge, TLC on the platform and PAF in the box. They start looking for food again at 17:45, running and flapping. They are snoozing again 30 minutes later, TFC the last to form the heap. They resume activity at 18:50. The male flies in with a small prey item at 19:30 and PAF grabs it from him and drags it into the box chased by TFC. PAF mantles the prey and TLC joins in the chase but PAF will not give up easily. PAF is pushed from one corner to the other but will not give up despite TFC’s insistence. The prey is being well defended. By this time, TLC is just a spectator. After 10 minutes there is a struggle and a compromise, PAF and TFC share they prey. A few minutes later, having had its fill, PAF leaves it to TFC. By 20:10, they are in a heap snoozing on the platform. They run around fro a few moments in the dark at 21:50 then go to the back of the box. The female arrives at 22:15 and the chicks run to her expectantly but she has nothing and reluctantly they return to the box. The female falls asleep at 22:40.
8 June – once again, the chicks are restless through the night but stay mainly in the corner of the box. The female wakens at 4:35 but the chicks remain in the box. At 5:10, there is a wing flapping competition initiated by TFC who is on the ledge in front of the female. PAF quickly follows and finally TLCC. The female leaves and the exercising continues. Things calm down a little at 5:25 and TFC sits on the ledge looking down on the road below whilst its two siblings are in the box. All three are together 5 minutes later. TLC returns to the platform at 5:55 and looks over the city for a few minutes before moving back to the box. At 6:30, PAF goes on a search looking for scraps of food but finds none and goes back into the box. The weather is again very wet and the three chicks form a huddle in the box. TFC has a brief check from the platform at 7:20 followed by PAF 5 minutes later. TLC goes on a check around the area at 8:10 and then there is a period of frantic wing flapping and exercising. When PAF takes to the platform TLC chases it around the central column forcing it towards the edge of the platform. I feel sure that like TFC yesterday, TLC is trying to force its sibling into its first flight. PAF scampers back into the box. At 8:30, it is TFC’s turn to sit on the ledge and is immediately followed by TLC who sidles closely alongside. TFC returns to the box and TLC plays with some feathers before rejoining. PAF has another wander around at 8:35 and checks for scraps. There then follows a period of brief incursions onto the platform until the male arrives with a Starling at 10:10. TFC is first out, then PAF and TLC. The female lands but she flies off allowing the male to pluck and feed the young. There is nothing left after 15 minutes but PAF has managed to secure a small morsel for itself. TFC is back on the ledge at 10:30 when the female flies in with a fresh Feral Pigeon. She plucks it on the platform watched by the young who wait patiently. TLC is first to be fed but eventually all three get a share. She flies off with the remains and there follows another period of frantic exercise and wing flapping. They settle down in the box at 11:10. PAF is first to break the huddle looking for scraps at 12:55 before rejoining the other two. TFC is back out on the platform wing flapping at 14:05 and then sitting on the ledge before going back to the box after 10 minutes. TLC is out at 14:20 looking for scraps and then a period of wing flapping. It is joined by PAF but they both join TFC in the box at 14:35. The female arrives at 14:55 and is greeted by all three chicks but she has no food and TFC forces her from the ledge. TFC seems to be the most confident on the ledge whilst the other two are happier walking around the platform. Whilst on the platform, they have a 5 minute flap. Mid-afternoon is relatively quiet with the chicks mainly in the box except for a few odd visits to look out from the platform. All three are back out at 16:10 and there is a 30 minute session of running around wing flapping before they settle back in the box. TFC is on the ledge at 17:15 and is attracted by something flying above it. This draws the other two out and they watch movement overhead whilst calling – no doubt one of the adults – hopefully with food. They remain on the platform for 20 minutes before returning to the box. Just as they had settle down, the male arrives with a small piece of prey which he leaves and is picked up by PAF. Despite being the smallest, it protects its meal from the other two and has the majority of the prey. When TFC manages to sneak a piece, PAF retrieves it and finishes it off. There is another fly-past by an adult at 18:00 and all three are back on the platform. Prior to the female’s arrival at 19:20, the three spend their time running around the area and exercising their wings. They are disappointed the female has no food and she soon leaves; they watch her go before continuing their exercises. This is their most active part of the day due to the improving weather. They eventually reluctantly return to the box at 20:45. All three are back on the platform at 21:20 when the female arrives empty-handed and leaves immediately. They watch the activity overhead but when nothing happens they move back to the box; TLC a few minutes after the others. The female lands on the ledge at 22:15 and is greeted by TFC. She walks into the box pursued by TFC who attacks her looking for food but she retreats to the ledge. The young settle down and after preening, she falls asleep at 22:45.
7 June – the female remained on the ledge but was scanning the skies from 00:00 until 00:45 when she flew off. The chicks were huddled in the corner of the box, if a little restless at times. The first chick wing flapping on the platform at 4:30 was TFC but is back in the huddle a few minutes later. Next up was PAF who goes through the same routine. It is soon joined by TLC who takes over the space and forces PAF back into the box. They are all back in the box within 10 minutes. At 4:45, TFC manages to find a morsel of prey and eats it. Activity is high this morning with all three chicks exercising their wings vigorously. At 6:25, the male brings in prey and is immediately joined by the female. The item is snatched off him by TLC who carries it into the box. It is reluctant to give it up but the female eventually wrestles the prey from TLC and feeds all the young. There is nothing left 5 minutes later and she moves to the ledge pursued by TFC. There then follows another round of activity during which TFC stands on the ledge – the first of the young to do so. It looks down onto the streets below. TFC returns to the box at 6:40. TLC takes a look out 10 minutes later but soon returns. The female brings in a Feral Pigeon at 7:10 and is greeted by PAF who gets first pickings but all three young get fed. After 20 minutes there is nothing left and the female flies out. The chicks are in the back of the box at 7:50 and make sporadic visits to the platform. At 9:35, they are all on the platform preening and wing stretching. They then lie in a heap with the occasional wing flapping session by each individual. By the time it starts to rain at 10:30, they are back in the box sheltering. TFC is the first to do some wing flapping in the rain on the platform at 11:25 followed by PAF and then TLC but they are soon back in the box with PFC remaining until 11:40. They remain in the box during the rain with just the odd brief visit to the platform. The rain has stopped by 17:20 and they are all on the platform recommencing their activities of running around, wing flapping and preening. They then sit looking out expectantly at 17:40. There is another round of activity at 19:00 including TFC squeezing through the gap between the 2 central columns! The female brings in a Feral Pigeon at 19:35 and it is immediately taken from her by TLC who drags it into the box and starts plucking it. TFC and PAF run to the female on the ledge but she flies off. They then try to get a share of the prey but TLC mantles the item – the first time I have seen this happen this year. When TLC lets its guard down, the other two grab a leg of the prey and try and drag it away. However, TLC is much bigger than either and soon has it back and moves to the opposite corner of the box. Unperturbed, PAF tries to get under the wing of TLC and pecks at its feet and tail. TFC joins in and eventually they get a foothold on the prey and all three pick at it. PAF seems to have control at 19:45 and TLC walks off. The male arrives briefly a few minutes later but is forced from the ledge by TLC. He is replaced by the female who tries to take the prey from PAF. PAF sits on the prey and mantles it and the female returns to the ledge. As soon as PAF steps off the prey, the female is in and takes control and all three young get fed. There is nothing left at 20:10 and she flies out. The young run around the platform for 10 minutes then settle in the box. The female is back at 22:00 and is asleep soon after.
6 June – the female remains on the ledge until 2:50 when she flies off returning 45 minutes later. The chicks are restless most of the evening and dozing until 4:00 when one approaches the female looking to be fed, returning to the box when there is nothing forthcoming. She falls asleep on the ledge. However, the chicks have other ideas TLC is back facing her at 4:40 whilst the others are wing flapping and stretching. It is TFC’s turn to beg 10 minutes later. At 4:55, TFC is back and forces the female off the ledge! It is obviously very hungry. There is then a heavy ‘snow storm’ as TLC starts flapping and downy feathers fly everywhere. At 6:30, all three young run to the platform and look out over the city watching the skies above. From the feathers that are falling, one of the adults must be plucking prey just above them. The female arrives 10 minutes later with an item of prey. There is a bit of a tug-of-war as TFC tries to snatch it from her but is unsuccessful although is the first to be fed. PAF joins the feed a few minutes later and finally TFC. The female shares the prey between the chicks. When it is finished, she is chased off the ledge by all three. They sit on the platform in the sun occasionally stretching and flapping their wings. The male flies in with a Starling but has it snatched from him by TLC. However, the female soon arrives and take the prey from TLC and feeds it to all three. The female sits on the ledge after feeding and the young stare at her from the platform before settling in a huddle. The female flies off at 10:00 and the chicks do more wing flapping for 10 minutes, then settle down again. There is another period of exercising at 11:30. There are lots of walking, stretching and flapping until 14:10 when the female arrives with a Feral Pigeon. She plucks it and feeds it to the chicks on the platform. PAF is the first to have had its fill then TFC whilst TLC continues to feed for another 15 minutes! There are just scraps left of the prey which the female finishes off. The female then returns to the ledge but it seems that TLC is not satisfied and at 15:00 is once again sitting in front of the female on the ledge. It then searches all the nooks and crannies for scraps of prey before returning to the female and trying to force her off but the female will not budge. There is a stand-off for 15 minutes but the female just closes her eyes and ignores the chick. TLC gives up and hoes into the box. The male arrives with a Starling at 15:40 and plucks it on the platform. Initially, only PAF seems interested and so the male feeds it. When the female tries to take over, he flies off leaving the prey behind. The female stashes the item beside the column and flies off. TLC notices they stash and drags it into the box and picks at it. The two other chicks do more wing exercises. TLC and PAF have a tussle over the prey and PAF takes over. It has a pick at the prey before leaving it in the box. Finally, it is TFC’s turn, although it too has trouble plucking it and eventually abandons it. At 16:00, TLC goes onto the platform and looks into the skies above before returning to the box. TLC looks longingly at the abandoned prey at 17:20 then moves to the platform checking the skies again. With no response from the adults, it returns to the box and has another attempt at plucking the Starling but abandons it again after a few minutes trying. It huddles in the corner of the box with the two other chicks at 17:45. All three run towards the female when she arrives at 18:00. She spots the prey in the back of the box and retrieves it and feeds it to the chicks. The female flies out when the meal is over and is replaced by the male at 18:15. The chicks are still begging for food and all three force him from the ledge at a few moments later. He is back quickly but is again forced off the ledge. At 18:30 they sit on the platform looking out in anticipation of another feed. TFC manages to uncover the remains of the head of a Starling and picks at that watched by TLC. TFC makes hard work of eating the difficult scrap and eventually eats it by 19:05. At 19:15, the three young huddle together in the corner of the box and settle down for the evening. The female arrives at 22:20 and sits on the ledge.
5 June – the female is on the ledge and is approached by TLC at 4:55 looking to be fed and is soon joined by the other two. They return to the box and there is lots of wing flapping and stretching creating clouds of feathers. At 7:20, PAF runs towards the female and she flies off briefly. She leaves again a few minutes later and the chicks watch from the platform. She is back at 7:40 with a Feral Pigeon and feeds the three young. She finishes off the scraps at 8:05 and goes to the ledge. The chicks are in the box initially exercising until they settle at the back. The male brings in pre-plucked prey at 9:30 and takes it into the chicks but the female arrives and takes it from him and he flies out. TLC and TFC are fed whilst PAF does wing flapping on the ledge and misses out on the meal. The female leaves at 9:40. All three chicks are lying in a heap on the platform at 10:25 until 11:15 when lots of preening takes place. They are back on the platform looking out at 12:00 and are back in a heap at 12:35 but are soon interrupted by the arrival of the female. She does not have any food and is chased around the box by the chicks. She goes back to the ledge and tries to ignore the constant begging then flies out at 13:05. The chicks resume their huddle on the platform. They start wing flapping or searching for scraps at 14:35. The male arrives at 15:05 with prey which is snatched from him by TFC. There is then a tussle between TFC and TLC with the larger TLC winning out. The arrival of the female finds PAF begging at her and she flies off. TFC takes over from TLC and picks at the prey and does a good job. There is little left at 15:25 and joins its siblings on the platform. The female brings in a Feral Pigeon a few moments later and feeds PAF first with the other two getting their share 5 minutes later. She flies off with the remains at 15:50. The chicks run around the box flapping then settle on the platform looking out. They lie in a huddle at 16:20. The male brings the remains back at 17:00 and feeds the chicks. There is not much left 20 minutes later and he flies off with it. The chicks form a heap at 17:30. The female returns at 17:50 and finds a few scraps at the back of the box but only TLC looks interested in being fed. The female returns to the ledge before flying off at 18:05. The chicks remain on the platform until 19:25 when they have a 10 minute exercise period then retire to the back of the box with the occasional trip onto the platform. The female is back at 20:50 and checks the box for scraps before settling on the ledge and falling asleep at 21:10.
4 June – the chicks are relatively calm through the night with the female on the ledge. They begin to become active at 4:15 and by 5:10 are walking around stretching. The female retrieves the left-overs from their previous meal and starts to feed the chicks – TLC is first in. The others follow later. She searches the box for more food, then sits on the ledge; the chicks are in the box. The male delivers a meal at 6:05 and the female takes it into the box to feed the young. It is over 10 minutes later and they settle down again. The young start to confront the female at 6:55 begging and calling continually; she ignores them. Another delivery arrives at 7:40 and the female takes it to the chicks. They are finished 5 minutes later and they watch as the female flies out before going back into the box. They go walkabout again at 9:20 then settle on the platform. The male flies in with food at 10:30 and starts to feed the chicks. The female soon joins and watches from the sides for a few minutes. When she tries to take over, the male leaves with the meal and the female tries to find scraps to feed the young. TFC and PAF do wing exercises whilst TLC is begs for food. The trio form a huddle on the platform at 11:15. They are back in begging mode at 12:40 with PAF leading the way. There then follows a period of wing flapping and running around the column. At 13:00, TFC and PAF shelter from the strong winds in the corner of the box whilst TLC begs at the female, joining its siblings after a few minutes. More begging by TLC at 13:25 leads the female to fly out. The chicks remain mostly in the box until the arrival of the male at 14:10 when he brings in a Starling. The female arrives and watches him pluck and feed it to the young for a few moments before taking over. This time he does not have the opportunity to take the meal with him. She feeds the chicks and it has gone in 5 minutes. They return to the box whilst she is on the ledge. When she flies out at 14:30 they run to the platform to watch her go, then return to the box. They make the occasional trip to the platform but soon return due to the wind and rain. The little bit of exercising they do occurs in the box. The arrival of the female at 18:45 sparks interest in the young but she only stays briefly. A few minutes later, she arrives with a fresh Feral Pigeon which she plucks and feeds to the chicks. they are full 30 minutes later and return to the box whilst the female feeds on the rest before flying off with the remains at 19:20. She returns at 20:15 and feeds a few scraps from the platform to the chicks before flying out after a few minutes. She is back 15 minutes later and settles down for the night falling asleep at 21:10.
3 June – the female remains on the ledge until 00:55 when she flies off. She is back at 2:35. The young are up and begging for food at 5:00. TFC sits in front of the female whilst the other two do wing stretching and running around. She takes a brief flight at 5:10 and the chicks go into the box. She flies off again at 5:55 and is replaced by the male who brings in a small item of prey and feeds it to the young. TLC snatches it from him and takes it to the box mantling it. The female is back at 6:15 and all three young greet her with begging calls. She flies off a few minutes later, the young spend their time preening, stretching and flapping. The male arrives with food at 6:40 and PAF is first to react but all three get fed. The female arrives 10 minutes later and the male takes off carrying his prey. The young settle in the box realising there is nothing to feed on from the female who flies off at 7:45. The young are preening on the platform an hour later. The female arrives with a new Feral Pigeon at 9:05 which she plucks on the platform and feeds the young. They have finished eating by 9:30 and the female has the remainder. She flies out a few minutes later and the young settle on the platform. She is back at 9:55 but the chicks lie together on the platform. The male lands with another Starling and the female relieves him of it. He flies out and she feeds the chicks. When they have finished, there is a wing flapping frenzy until they calm down at 12:00 but beg for more food. As none is forthcoming, the huddle together on the platform at 12:45. The female flies off. The male arrives at 13:50 and sits on the ledge until the continual begging forces him off. The female arrives at 14:15 and the chick huddle together at 12:45. She flies off at 15:15. They are still together when she returns briefly at 16:10. The male arrives with prey at 16:40 but when the female lands and tries to take it from him he leaves with it. The chicks watch him go. AS they are now awake, they start preening, stretching and flapping. They then search for scraps in the box before settling on the platform looking out. There is another 10 minute bout of activity at 17:00. PAF and TFC look out from the platform whilst TLC sits in the box. The male is back briefly at 17:50, taking a number of short flights – probably hunting close by. The female brings in food at 18:00 and feeds the three young. She stashes what little remains at 18:25 and sits on the ledge. The young go into the box to snooze whilst the female spends time preening, then falls asleep at 20:20 with a full crop and remains until midnight at least.
2 June – the female wakens at 4:40 and the juvenile become active. The male arrives at 5:15 and goes into the box looking for scraps but soon flies out. There is a lot of wing flapping. The young settle down at 5:25 but there is a snow storm of feathers as the female tries to feed them scraps from the platform. PAF and TFC sit on the platform looking out whilst TLC sits in the box. The male arrives with a Starling at 7:10 which the female relieves him of and feeds to the chicks, then returns to the ledge. He is back with another Starling at 7:40 and the process happens. The chicks fall asleep on the platform at 8:30. The female takes another delivery at 9:55 and the chicks are fed again. The young become quite active and run around the central column wing flapping watched by the female. They settle down on the platform again at 10:30 but are up and about at 11:45. The female flies out briefly at 12:05 and the male arrives empty-handed 10 minutes later and is soon off. All three are begging in front of the female at 12:25 and become restless. They are lying in a huddle again at 13:15 and remain there until the female flies off at 14:25. The young have a preening and stretching session. The female is back at 14:45 but without food and she leaves again. The young do lots of wing flapping then settle in the box. She is back again briefly at 15:10 and is hounded by the calling young. The male arrives with a plucked item of prey 10 minutes later and is followed by the female who takes it from him. He flies off whilst she feeds the chicks. It is gone after 5 minutes and she flies off. They are in the back of the box at 16:20 then huddled on the platform after 25 minutes. They are disturbed by the female at 17:10 but she soon flies off. The male brings in more prey a few minutes later but once again, it is the female that feeds it to the young and he flies out. There is nothing left after 15 minutes and the female leaves at 17:30 to be replaced by the male but he has no food. The chicks do some wing exercising. At 17:45, TLC stands in front of him calling incessantly – he flies off and the young go into the box. At 18:30, the male brings in more prey and starts to feed the chicks. The female sits on the ledge watching for a few minutes then tries to take over. The male walks away with the prey but the female snatches it from him. When they have finished, the young lie in the corner of the box whilst the female is on the ledge. She flies off at 19:00 returning with food 10 minutes later. She moves back to the ledge and the chicks into the box. The female falls asleep at 22:00.
1 June – the female is watching the night skies and flew off at 00:40; the chicks lying prostrate on the platform. She returns at 3:30 and the chicks were still asleep and she soon follows. The chicks are awake at 4:00 and walk around the box for an hour then return to the platform. The female remains asleep until 6:00 when the chicks walk up to her looking for food. As there is none, the explore the box and wing stretch. She flies off at 6:45 and returns 10 minutes later. The male flies in with freshly plucked prey at 7:00 and the female relieves him of it and feeds the hungry young. It did not last long. She flies off at 7:20 and the chicks explore the box. The male arrives with a Feral Pigeon at 8:05 but before he is able to feed the young, the female flies in and takes it from him. The female ensures that all the young are fed and after feeding, the the chicks do their wing exercises. She returns to the ledge at 8:40 and they settle in the back of the box at 8:55. They are begging for food again an hour later. They pick at scraps on the platform and she flies out at 9:55. She is back at 11:10 and sits on the ledge. The young are back begging at 12:30 and lie down at 13:15. The female looks for scraps at 13:25 but there are none and flies out 20 minutes later. The chicks go exploring at 14:15 and do wing flapping and stretching. The male is back at 15:20 and looks around the box for food and is followed by the hungry chicks. He flies out and the chicks resume their wing exercises and preening. The female arrives with a Feral Pigeon as prey at 16:00 which is plucked on the platform. All three chicks are fed with the smaller PAF pushing himself to the front to ensure he got a fair portion. She continues to feed them until there is nothing left. What scraps remain are stashed by the column and she returns to the ledge. The male flies in at 17:25 and is greeted by the chicks. The female pushes him off the ledge and retrieves the stash and feeds what little remains to the chicks. Thankfully the young are well fed as it does not last long. It is noticeable that TLC in particular is quite adept at picking at scraps left around and often tries to pick at the prey held by the female. The young fall asleep in the box and the female likewise on the ledge. They become restless at 19:40 and exercise for 20 minutes, then settle down again. The female remains on the ledge, falling asleep at 22:30.