MARCH 2022
Unfortunately, the cameras failed on 18 February at 16:40 until …
2 March – the cameras start streaming again at 15:30 but there was no activity seen before midnight.
3 March – the pair fly in at 1:35 and go into the box. The male leaves soon after and the female sits on the ledge, then falls asleep. She wakes at 6:35 and flies off, returning at 7:25 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She plucks her meal and stashes it by a column at 7:50, then leaves. The pair are back at 10:00 and the male goes into the box whilst the female feeds on the pigeon. He then moves to the ledge and watches her feed. She flies off with her meal at 10:35 and the male picks at scraps on the platform. She is soon back and he goes into the box as she sits on the ledge with a full crop. He flies off ten minutes later and she leaves at 11:00. The male is back at 12:55 picking at scraps on the platform until leaving at 13:10. The female returns 15 minutes later but leaves after ten minutes. The pair are back at 14:50 and go into the box. The male leaves after a few minutes as the female moves to the ledge. The male returns at 17:45 and the female goes into the box. After a few moments they swap places. She takes a short flight at 17:55 and he remains in the box. She joins him briefly at 18:20, he then moves to the ledge and leaves. She flies out at 19:50.
4 March – the male arrives at 6:55 and is followed five minutes later by the female carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey. He flies off, returning 15 minutes later and watches the female pluck and feed on the pigeon, then he leaves. She flies off with her meal at 7:50 and the male lands to feed on scraps from the platform until 8:00. He is back briefly at 9:25 and again at 10:50 when he goes into the box until 13:15. He returns at 13:30 for ten minutes. The female is back at 15:45 carrying the remains of her meal from earlier in the day and feeds on the platform. She stashes what remains by a column 30 minutes later and sits on the ledge with a full crop until 17:50 when she flies off.
5 March – the male arrives at 00:55 and checks out the box, picks up the remains of yesterday’s meal and feeds on it. He takes a short flight at 1:15, then continues to feed on the remains. He flies off at 1:25. The female arrives at 5:00. The male joins her at 6:10 and presents the scraps that he has been feeding on. She picks at them, and he flies off. She leaves at 6:30 and is replaced by the male for five minutes. He is back at 7:05 for ten minutes and the pair are in the box at 8:10 but do not stay long. The male is back at 10:10 for five minutes and briefly at 11:55. From 12:35, he makes five short flights in less than two minutes – these look to be defensive flights rather than hunting; calling loudly each time he lands – the possibility of an intruder. He flies off at 12:40 and returns to the box at 14:10 with the female in tow. He leaves after a few minutes bonding and she moves to the ledge, then flies off. The male is back at 15:40 remaining for ten minutes and is back again calling at 16:40 for just a few minutes. There is no further activity on camera before midnight.
6 March – the pair arrive at 6:35 but only stay a few minutes. The male is back at 7:35 for ten minutes and again an hour later until 8:50. He is back at 9:25 for another ten minute spell. The pair return at 11:20 but they leave soon after. The male is back at 12:35 for half an hour and returns again at 14:10 for five minutes. The pair fly in at 15:15 and go into the box but the male leaves after a few minutes and is followed by the female. He is back at 15:50 sporting a full crop. He flies off a few minutes later with scraps from a previous meal, probably to offer them to the female! They are back in the box at 17:00 but again, the male quickly leaves. He soon returns with the scraps that he picked up an hour earlier. The female snatches them from him and he flies off. She stashes the scraps and sits on the ledge until 17:35 when she leaves.
7 March – the male flies in at 00:25 and searches for scraps on the platform before sitting on the ledge and falling asleep. He leaves at 5:50 and returns at 6:15 for five minutes. He is back at 6:40 and is quickly followed by the female carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey. He goes into the box, then moves to the ledge and watches her pluck and feed. He manages to steal a scrap from her meal and flies off at 7:00 whilst she continues feeding until 7:30 when she leaves with her meal. The male returns and watches the skies from the platform until leaving at 7:50. He is back at 10:45 and takes three short flights before leaving at 10:50. He is back 15 minutes later but is distracted by events above him; he flies off. Between 11:50 and 17:50 the male makes at least 26 short flights from the platform, occasionally with the female; this is consistent with at least one intruder being in their territory which they are defending intently. At 18:00 the male is on the platform and joined by the female 15 minutes later who settles on the ledge. He leaves at 18:10 and returns at 18:45 and sits on the platform until 22:05 when he goes into the box. The pair fall asleep and remain until midnight at least.
8 March – the female remains on the ledge and the male moves to the platform at 1:35. He is back in the box at 2:05 and then on the ledge at 5:50. The pair leave at 6:05. The male returns at 6:50 but only stays for a few minutes. He is back at 8:15 but leaves when the female lands five minutes later, but she does not stay long either. He is back briefly at 11:15. Surprisingly, there is no further activity until the female lands very briefly three hours later. She is back at 15:15 for five minutes. The male flies into the box at 16:10 and remains there until moving to the platform at 18:00. The female flies in soon after, he goes into the box and she joins him. After a few minutes bonding, he moves back to the platform then falls asleep at 18:45. At 21:45, the female moves to the ledge and the male into the box; they fall asleep. She flies off at 23:05 and he sits on the ledge. He takes a short flight at 23:55, then returns to the ledge.
9 March – the male remains asleep on the ledge until 1:05 when the female returns. He goes into the box and she falls asleep on the ledge. The male is back on the ledge at 4:00 and flies off ten minutes later; returning at 5:05. He takes another short flight at 6:00 and the pair leave at 6:15. The male is back at 6:35 until 6:50. He is in the box at 7:35, then sits on the ledge until for five minutes before leaving. He is back very briefly at 8:35 and 11:10. The pair fly in at 12:55 and go into the box, they leave 15 minutes later. The male returns at 13:50 and goes into the box and looks out over the city. He takes a short flight at 16:15 and returns to the box. At 16:55 he flies in with the female; he is in the box, she on the ledge. She leaves at 17:20 and he watches her from the platform until leaving at 18:05. He is back at 18:50 and sits on the ledge with a full crop. He goes into the box at 19:45 when the female flies in carrying very fresh Woodcock prey which she plucks then stashes by a column. She sits on the ledge until 21:30 when she resumes plucking her meal and re-stashes it 20 minutes later. The male checks out her meal at 22:50 but she is too quick for him and protects it before he manages to snatch it. She resumes plucking, then stashes it as he returns to the box.
10 March – the female walks into the box at 1:15 and the male moves to the ledge and falls asleep. At 5:40, the male finds the stashed Woodcock and starts to pluck and feed on it, flying off with it at 6:00. The female flies off five minutes later. The male returns at 6:45 and sits on the ledge for 20 minutes. He is back an hour later, calling loudly, then flies out at 8:10. He lands briefly at 8:35, 9:00, 10:35, 11:40 and 13:30. At 13:40, the pair go into the box but the female leaves quickly and the male 20 minutes later. He is back at 14:35 and goes into the box, returning to the ledge after ten minutes. He returns to the box at 15:35 and is joined by the female at 17:05. She then moves to the platform and feeds on scraps. He flies out at 17:15 and she moves to the ledge. He is back in the box an hour later. He looks for scraps on the platform at 19:55 but is forced back into the box by the female. He moves to the ledge at 20:30 for five minutes later and sits on the ledge at 22:50 for 15 minutes, then returns to the box.
11 March – the female flies out at 00:10 and the male moves to the ledge and falls asleep. He flies off at 00:45 and returns ten minutes later. He is off again at 1:40 and returns at 2:15 calling loudly and leaves a few minutes later. He is back briefly at 2:45 and 3:45. He flies in at 5:00 with what appears to be the remains of the Woodcock meal from two days previous. He does not feed, so is possibly waiting to present them to the female. He flies off with them at 6:05 and returns with the female who now clutches the remains. She feeds on the platform and he flies off. She leaves with her meal at 6:20. The male lands briefly a few minutes later. The pair fly into the box at 7:00 but he leaves quickly as the female feeds on scraps; she leaves at 8:00. The male is back briefly at 8:10. At 9:55 he lands on the platform and is joined by the female 15 minutes later but she soon leaves and he quickly follows. He returns at 12:10 and goes into the box until moving to the platform at 13:00 and flying out. The pair return 35 minutes later and go into the box. After a few minutes bonding, the female moves onto the platform and watches over the city. She is back in the box at 14:40 and the male moves to the ledge five minutes later. He takes a short flight at 14:55 and returns to the ledge until 15:40 when he moves into the box to shelter from the weather until 16:55. At 17:30, the female moves to the ledge and the male goes into the box. She returns to the box at 18:15 and the male moves to the ledge at 18:35. The female sits on the opposite ledge at 20:35. The male flies off at 21:00; she leaves at 22:25. The male is back at 22:50 and remains on the ledge until midnight at least.
12 March – the male remains sleeping on the ledge until 5:50 when he flies off. He lands briefly at 7:20 and 7:50. He is on the ledge at 8:00 and takes a short flight at 8:30. The female arrives at 8:55 but leaves after a few minutes; he follows at 9:05. He is back after five minutes and takes a short flight at 10:20, as something catches his attention above him. The female joins him at 11:30 and they immediately fly off together. They are back 15 minutes later, the male carrying the remains of a previous Feral Pigeon meal. The female snatches it from him. He goes into the box, but she already looks well fed. She flies off with her meal at 11:55 and returns without it a few moments later. The male remains in the box and the female sits on the ledge until 13:00 when she joins the male. He quickly flies out and she returns to the ledge, leaving a few moments later. She is soon back and takes a short flight and another at 13:15. The male is back in the box at 14:55 and they swap places at 15:45. She then returns to the ledge, and he flies off. She takes a short flight five minutes later. The male is back at 17:15 and goes into the box half an hour later. He is on the ledge at 17:50 but flies off when the female moves to the ledge at 18:05. She shelters on the platform from the wind at 20:45 and remains there until midnight at least.
13 March – the male flies into the box at 0:45 and remains there until he leaves at 4:40. He is back in the box at 5:55 but the female is still asleep on the platform from the previous evening until 6:10 when she flies off. The male moves to the platform and watches her go. He flies off at 6:30 and returns a few minutes later with fresh Blackbird prey. He plucks it on the platform but does not feed, but flies off with it at 7:00 no doubt to be presented to the female. He is back at 7:55 and feeds on some scraps, then sits on the ledge. He flies off at 9:05 and returns an hour later with the female. They go into the box for a short bonding session, then she sits on the ledge. The male flies out at 10:15 and she leaves at 10:40. The male is back at 12:30 and takes a short flight 30 minutes later. He takes another short flight at 14:00, 14:15 and 15:00. He is joined by the female at 15:05 but they fly off five minutes later. The female is back at 16:00 and is joined by the male 25 minutes later. He goes into the box briefly, then flies out. She leaves at 18:40 and returns with the male 10 minutes later; he goes into the box. He flies out at 22:05 and she leaves at 22:30. The male is back at 23:25 and remains on the ledge until midnight at least.
14 March – the male is on the ledge and the female flies in with fresh Woodpigeon prey at 00:10; he goes into the box. She plucks her meal, and he moves to the ledge to watch. She has finished feeding at 1:05 and he moves back into the box. The male then snatches her meal, but she does not attempt to prevent him. He flies off with it at 1:30; she remains on the ledge. He is back at 5:35 and goes into the box. They swap places at 6:05, then he flies off; she follows soon after. The male is back at 6:15 and picks at scraps on the platform; he flies off after ten minutes. He is back 20 minutes later and leaves at 7:45. The pair are back at 8:05, the male carrying fresh Blackbird prey. He flies off with it and is followed by the female. He is back at 9:55, leaving ten minutes later. The female returns at 11:30 and sits on the ledge with a full crop, leaving at 12:15. The male is back briefly at 13:25 and the pair fly in at 13:55 and go into the box for a bonding session. The male flies out after a few minutes and the female follows soon after. They are back at 16:20 but the male leaves quickly and the female at 16:35. The male returns at 17:15 and leaves an hour later. The pair return at 18:40 but the male does not stay. She falls asleep on the ledge remaining until midnight at least.
15 March – the male flies in at 4:30 and disturbs the female. They sit on opposite ledges and fall asleep. He flies off at 5:40 and the female leaves ten minutes later. He is back in the box at 4:55, then moves to the ledge, flying off at 6:05. The pair return at 6:35, the female carrying the remains of yesterday’s Woodpigeon. She feeds, watched by the male from the ledge. She flies off with it at 6:55 and is followed quickly by the male. The female flies in at 9:55 carrying fresh Woodcock prey but does not stay to pluck or feed. The male visits briefly at 10:20 and the pair return an hour later. There is bonding in the box, then the male flies out, followed quickly by the female. He is back for a few moments at 13:25 and the pair return at 14:35. She sits on the ledge after a bonding briefly, flying off at 15:10. The male is back at 16:15 and goes into the box soon followed by the female. He flies out after five minutes and she moves to the ledge, leaving at 17:00 and returning after ten minutes; she flies off at 18:00. The female returns to the ledge at 18:25 and the male flies into the box five minutes later. They swap places at 19:00 and the female moves back to the ledge ten minutes later. They remain on the ledge until midnight at least.
16 March – the female flies off at 00:05 but the male remains on the ledge asleep. He flies off at 5:40 and returns five minutes later with the female. He soon leaves and she sits on the ledge until 6:40 when the male returns carrying fresh Blackbird prey. The female takes it from him and he flies off. She eats her meal and then leaves at 6:50 at which point, the male returns, checks the box then leaves. He is back briefly at 7:15 and at 9:00 he goes into the box for ten minutes, then flies out. The pair are back in the box at 12:10; they leave after a few minutes bonding. The male returns at 13:05 and goes into the box; he leaves at 14:45. The pair are back at 17:50, the male flies off at 18:00 and the female sits on the ledge until midnight at least.
17 March – the male joins the female at 2:50 and goes into the box. He moves to the ledge at 5:05 and flies off at 5:30; the female follows a few minutes later. The male is back at 5:50 and remains until 6:45 and again at 6:55 for five minutes. He goes into the box at 7:20, then sits on the ledge. Between 7:30 and 7:35, he makes seven (7) short flights, returning to the platform each time calling loudly – most probably fending off an intruder. The female flies in at 9:05 for ten minutes and at 9:40, the male goes into the box for five minutes. The female is back briefly at 10:10, then returns at 10:45 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She takes her meal into the box at 11:05 and flies out at 11:10. The male returns land briefly at 11:45 and is back a few moments later when he goes into the box. He drags the pigeon to the platform and feeds, stashing the remains at 11:55 and flying off. The pair are back at 12:40 and go into the box. After a few minutes bonding, the female feasts on the stashed pigeon; the male leaves at 12:50. The female finishes eating at 13:25, stashes the remains and flies off; the male lands briefly. He is back at 14:10 and feeds on the pigeon, flying off with it 15 minutes later. He is back on the ledge sporting a full crop at 14:45 but does not stay long. The female lands two hours later and she too looks well fed. She sits on the ledge until 17:30 when the male joins her in the box. He then picks at some scraps before flying off soon after, and the female moves back to the ledge. The male is back at 18:55 and the pair go into the box. He is back on the ledge five minutes later and she returns at 19:10. The male flies off at 20:45, whilst the female remains until midnight at least.
18 March – the male files into the box at 1:35. The female leaves at 5:20 and he moves to the ledge to watch her go, then follows ten minutes later. The pair are back at 5:40 but the male leaves quickly and she flies off at 5:50. The pair return at 6:15, the male carrying fresh Jackdaw prey which the female snatches from him. He flies off and she plucks her meal then leaves at 6:20. He is back in the box a few minutes later then sits on the ledge at 6:40 for ten minutes. The female is back at 7:30 for 20 minutes. There is no further activity until the male makes a quick visit at 13:35 and the female flies in at 14:00 for five minutes. The male is back half an hour later for five minutes and is then replaced by the female who leaves at 14:45. The male is back briefly at 17:05 and returns at 18:10 for five minutes. The female is on the ledge at 18:35 with a full crop. The male flies in at 22:20 with fresh Starling prey for the female but leaves with it soon after as she is already well fed. She falls asleep and remains until midnight at least.
19 March – the female remains on the ledge and the male arrives at 5:05; he goes into the box. She flies off at 5:40 and he follows. He is back ten minutes later but is off again at 6:10. He returns with stashed pre-plucked prey; the female is waiting for him. She snatches the meal, and he flies off; she leaves with her meal. He is back at 6:25 and watches over the city for 15 minutes and at 7:05 for 20 minutes. He returns at 7:30 for 15 minutes then brings in fresh Starling prey at 7:55. He plucks it but does not feed – no doubt waiting to present it to the female. He flies off with it at 8:10 and returns a few minutes later with the female close behind. She accepts her meal and he flies off. She does not feed but leaves with her meal. The male is back a few minutes later carrying the Starling which the female had obviously stashed. He is trying to feed her up to get her into prime breeding condition. He scowers the skies for the female, then flies off with it at 10:05. The female is back at 10:50 and goes into the box where she tends the scrape. She moves to the ledge at 11:00 remaining until 12:35. The male flies into the box at 14:00 and leaves at 15:25; he is back briefly a few minutes later. The pair returns at 15:40 and there is more bonding and scrape activity. The male watches the female intently as she sits in the scrape and there is lots of calling between them. After 15 minutes, the male does a bit of scraping whilst the female looks out over the city. The male flies off at 16:05 and she moves to the ledge at 17:30. He is back in the box at 17:45 and she flies off; he leaves at 18:20. The female returns a few minutes later and remains on the ledge until midnight at least.
20 March – the female remains on the ledge until 5:35 when the male flies into the box and she joins him. There is calling and bonding, but he leaves after a few moments and she moves back to the ledge. The pair return at 6:05 and the female is carrying Feral Pigeon prey; he goes into the box but leaves five minutes later. He is back at 6:30, the female flies off with her meal and he follows. He is on the ledge at 6:35 for five minutes and lands briefly at 8:10. The pair are back at 8:35, the female goes into the box, the male carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey which he plucks. Rather than give it to the female, he flies out with it at 8:55 and she follows. She returns at 9:10, without her meal. She picks at scraps on the platform, then sits on the ledge. She flies off at 9:50, returning at 12:10 and goes onto the scrape. She moves to the ledge at 12:35 and returns to the box at 13:55 when the male flies in. He leaves after a few minutes and she returns to the ledge. She flies off at 16:00 and the male flies in and sits in the scrape leaving after 20 minutes. He is back an hour later. At 17:20 he takes two short flights before leaving at 17:30. He returns 20 minutes later with the female but he does not stay long. She goes onto the scrape, moving to the ledge at 18:00. She moves into the box at 19:05 where she remains sleeping until 23:45 when she returns to the ledge.
21 March – the female remains on the ledge and is joined by the male at 2:05. They sleep until 5:25 when the male flies off. He is back five minutes later and goes into the box but quickly leaves and the female follows. The pair are back at 6:20, the male carrying pre-plucked prey which the female snatches from him. He flies off and she leaves with her meal. He is back at 6:40 for ten minutes and at 7:30 for 15 minutes. The female returns at 8:10 with very fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She flies off with it five minutes later. The male lands briefly at 8:50. The female goes into the box at 10:25 and sits in the scrape and moves stones around, then moves to the ledge after five minutes. She flies off at 10:40 and is replaced by the male who goes into the box at 10:45 and falls asleep. He flies out at 11:10 but is back at 12:55 and goes onto the scrape, falling asleep in the box. He moves to the ledge at 14:10 and leaves 15 minutes later. The pair return to the box at 15:35 but the male quickly leaves. She sits in the scrape and moves stones, then walks to the ledge, flying off at 15:55. The pair are back a few minutes later, the male carrying partly-eaten Feral Pigeon – probably the bird from earlier in the day. The male flies off and is followed by the female carrying her meal. She is back briefly at 17:40 calling loudly then returns at 18:50 and goes into the box. She sits in the scrape preening and moving stones. The male flies in at 19:00 and there is calling between the pair. He then falls asleep on the ledge and the female sits opposite him at 20:45. He flies off at 21:45 and the female remains until midnight at least.
22 March – the male is back at 2:55 and the female goes into the box. He takes a short flight after ten minutes, then sits on the ledge. The female flies out at 3:40 and the male follows. He quickly returns and sits on the platform looking over the city. He flies off at 4:50 and is back briefly at 5:25 and 5:40. The female is back briefly at 7:00 and the male five minutes later. They are back together at 7:30 but leave soon after – all indications are that there is an intruder in the area. The male is back for a few minutes at 8:25 and the female flies in at 9:05 until 9:30 when the male makes a brief landing. He is back for a few moments at 9:55 and again at 10:50, 12:05, and 13:55. At 14:25, the female flies into the box and sits in the scrape, moving to the ledge 15 minutes later where she remains until 16:00. She is back briefly at 16:05. The male flies in with part-eaten prey at 16:25, looking for the female. He checks the skies but cannot see her so starts to feed at 16:55. She eventually arrives at 17:10 and grabs what little there is left; he leaves, and she feeds. She sits on the ledge at 17:25 until 18:05 when she flies off. The male returns at 18:50 and checks out the box, then moves to the ledge. The female arrives at 19:35 and the pair go into the box. The male quickly moves to the ledge whilst the female sits in the scrape. She walks to the ledge at 20:45 and the male takes a short flight. She flies off on his return; he follows at 21:00. The male is back at 22:30 and falls asleep on the ledge until at least midnight.
24 March – the female remains on the ledge until 4:00 when she goes into the box on the return of the male and sits in the scrape; he falls asleep. He flies off at 5:20 and she quickly follows. He lands briefly at 5:30. The pair are back at 5:50, the male carrying fresh Blackbird prey which he presents to the female. He flies off and she feeds. She leaves with her meal at 6:10 and the male returns, checks the box twice then flies out. The female is back for ten minutes at 7:55. The male returns at 10:15 and makes two short flights in the next five minutes; he leaves at 10:30. The female is back at 12:30 and goes into the box and lies down in the scrape – normally she would stand in it or move the stones with her feet. The male lands on the ledge briefly a few minutes later. She walks to the platform and looks out at 12:50. She returns to the scrape at 13:05 and dozes. At 13:20, her posture changes and she stands in the scrape much more upright. One minute later she appears to have laid her FIRST EGG. At 13:35, she walks round the scrape and the image of an egg can be seen – clear confirmation. She covers it and falls asleep. The male arrives at 14:25 calling loudly but soon leaves and the female quickly follows – intruder alert! She is back ten minutes later and immediately covers the egg. At 15:20, she walks to the ledge, looks out then flies off leaving the egg unattended for 20 minutes. She is back on the ledge at 16:00 for five minutes, then returns to the egg. The male arrives at 16:25 and for the first time sees the egg. He stands over it but the female will not allow him to cover it. She takes over and he flies out. She is back looking out from the platform at 17:10 and flies off. The male arrives and has his first session of incubation whilst the female is away. He leaves after ten minutes. He is back at 17:50 and looks for the female; he flies out five minutes later. The female returns at 18:30 and stands by the egg. She eventually covers it at 20:00 and falls asleep.
25 March – the female remains on the egg until 1:00 when she stands beside it for 30 minutes, then walks to the ledge and falls asleep. The male flies in at 4:55, checks the egg and flies out. The female returns to the egg and covers it and falls asleep. She is back on the ledge at 5:20 and flies off 15 minutes later. The male lands at 5:55 but flies off ten minutes later. The female returns at 7:05 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey; she plucks and feeds on the platform. she flies off with the remains at 7:45 when the male lands and goes and incubates the egg for five minutes, then flies off. The female is back incubating at 7:55 but flies off again at 8:15, returning at 9:00. She walks to the platform at 9:20 as the male lands heavily, calling loudly; there is an intruder around again! He flies off and she follows. He is back for five minutes at 9:45. The female returns at 11:40 and covers the egg until 14:05 when she moves to the ledge and is replaced by the male. However, something upsets him and before he can cover the egg; he flies out and the female follows. She is back at 14:25 and resumes incubation. She flies out again at 15:15, returning to the egg at 15:50. She flies off again at 16:35 but is back a few minutes later. She is off at 17:15 and returns with the male carrying Little Grebe prey which she snatches from him. He flies off, and she leaves with her meal. The male returns to cover the egg at 17:35 until 17:55 when he flies out. She is back at 18:25 and incubates until 21:00 when she sits at the back of the box, then moves to the ledge ten minutes later. She is back in the scrape at 22:00 and covers the egg until 23:00 when she returns to the ledge.
26 March – the female returns to the egg at 1:00, an hour after moving to the ledge. She stands beside it uncovered at 2:40 and falls asleep. She resumes incubation at 4:00 until moving to the platform 50 minutes later. She walks to the ledge at 5:25 and looks out over a dark city. The male lands and checks the egg, then flies out; the female picks at some scraps on the platform before flying off ten minutes later. The male lands briefly at 6:45 and again at 7:25, but the egg is left unattended for the next two and a half hours before the female eventually returns and resumes incubation. She checks the skies at 8:20 and 8:30, then flies off at 9:10. The male is back briefly at 9:45. The female is back on the egg at 11:05 for 15 minutes, flying off with the male at 11:25 – more intruder activity. A Stock Dove pays a visit to the box at 12:30, thankfully it didn’t do any damage to the egg, leaving when the male landed briefly a few minutes later. The female is back on the egg at 13:10 but moves to the ledge 30 minutes later where she remains until taking a short flight at 14:25 and is back on the egg at 15:10. She is off in a rush at 15:35 and the male lands briefly; they both fly out. She is back at 17:05 and covers the egg. The male lands at 17:35 for five minutes; the female watches him leave from the ledge; she follows at 18:00. The male lands for five minutes at 18:15. He is back at 18:40 looking out from the platform then moves into the box when the female arrives at 18:55. She does not allow him to cover the egg and forces him to fly off. She incubates until at least midnight.
27 March – the female stands by her egg at 00:05 and falls asleep. The male arrives and tries to take over at 4:15 (BST) but the female refuses to give way. He moves to the ledge and falls asleep. She resumes incubation at 4:30. The male flies out at 5:15 and the female walks to the ledge and follows ten minutes later. He is back at 6:35 and briefly covers the egg but soon flies out. He lands for a few moments at 7:00 and returns 15 minutes later carrying the remnants of a previous meal which the female flies in and snatches from hm; he leaves. She feeds, then covers the egg at 7:30. A few minutes later she stands by the egg in an upright posture and at 7:45 (BST), delivers a SECOND EGG. She covers both eggs when the new one is dry at 8:00. The male lands ten minutes later with scraps of food but the female ignores him; he feeds then flies off. She leaves the eggs at 9:00 when the male arrives with fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She feeds until 9:40 and stashes the remains before continuing incubation. She is off the eggs at 11:15 when she sits on the ledge, returning to them at 12:10. She covers the eggs until 14:00 when she is back on the ledge for 20 minutes. She resumes incubation until 15:35 when she is back on the ledge for 20 minutes. She returns to the ledge at 16:45. The male sneaks in five minutes later and commences incubation but he leaves after ten minutes and the female takes over. She is back on the ledge at 17:30 and then flies off. The male lands briefly at 19:00 and the female is back 20 minutes later to resume incubation until midnight at least.
28 March – the female leaves the eggs at 2:10 and flies off. The male immediately flies in but does not cover the eggs. He leaves after five minutes. The female returns at 2:40 and resumes incubation. She stands over the eggs at 3:30 until 5:30. She walks to the ledge at 6:15 and flies off. The male lands two hours later, calling loudly at the sky; he flies off after five minutes. He is back again briefly at 8:35 and at 9:00 for ten minutes. The female lands with fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 9:45. She plucks and feeds, then flies off with her meal at 10:15. She returns with a full crop at 10:40 and covers the eggs but makes a swift exit less than five minutes later. She is back incubating at 11:05 until 12:20 when she sits on the ledge for 15 minutes. At 13:10, the male arrives with Feral Pigeon prey and the female snatches it from him; he flies off. She leaves with her meal and returns at 13:45 to resume incubation. The male arrives at 15:20 and takes over the duties. However, both birds leave together a few minutes later; intruder activity. The female is back at 16:25 and the male is on the ledge at 16:50 until 17:05. She moves to the platform at 18:00 and looks skywards, then flies off. The male flies in at 19:15 to cover the eggs; the female lands on the ledge soon after. He leaves after five minutes, and she takes over for the rest of the evening. She stands over the eggs at 22:05 for ten minutes, then continues incubation. She moves to the ledge at 23:50.
29 March – the female returns to the eggs at midnight. She stands over them at 1:20 for five minutes. She moves to the ledge at 3:25 for ten minutes, then resumes incubation. At 4:05, the male flies in and takes over, she moves to the ledge for 15 minutes before taking over again; he sits on the ledge. She returns to the ledge at 5:30 and he flies off but is back on the eggs after 20 minutes. The male is back at 5:35 and he takes over for a few minutes before flying off, she soon follows. He is back on the eggs at 7:05 but flies out after ten minutes. The female resumes incubation at 7:35 until leaving at 8:10. The male immediately flies in with Feral Pigeon prey and she swoops in to snatch it from him. She flies off with her meal and he covers the eggs until 8:25 when he flies off. She is back on the eggs at 9:20 until 11:00 when she is relieved by the male; she flies off. He leaves after 20 minutes and is back on the eggs at 12:45. He is replaced by the female after ten minutes and he flies out. She leaves at 13:05 returning at 14:25 but is off again ten minutes later. The male is back at 16:00 for 15 minutes and the female resumes at 17:10. Something attracts her attention at 18:35 and she flies out but is back at 18:50. An hour later, she begins to get restless in the scrape. She stands by her eggs and a few moments later delivers the THIRD EGG. She incubates and falls asleep until 21:25 when she wakens suddenly from a dream and spreads her wings defensively over the eggs. She looks around the box, gathers her senses and continues incubation.
30 March – the male arrives at 6:10 and takes over incubation; she flies off. He leaves at 6:35 and doesn’t return until 8:40 but flies out at pace five minutes later. He is back briefly after minutes and there is obviously intruder activity. The female is back on the eggs at 9:15. She is off at 10:00 and the male lands on the platform at 10:35. He ducks into the box three times in quick succession before flying off a few minutes later. He is back briefly at 10:45 and again at 10:50 and 10:55. The pair land briefly at 11:00 and the female incubates but is off five minutes later. The male makes three quick stops before the female lands at 11:35 to resume incubation. The male makes seven short visits in the next 25 minutes trying to fend off intruders. With further incursions, the female leaves the scrape at 12:10 to assist the male; she is back ten minutes later. She is off again at 12:40 returning at 13:05; the male remained on the platform then flies off on her return. He is forced back into the box at 13:20, then sits on the ledge for 15 minutes. He is back at 13:40 for another 15 minutes but is again forced into the box a few minutes later; the female remains tight on the eggs. He is off at 14:15 until 14:55 when he feeds on scraps on the platform for five minutes, then leaves. The female flies off at 15:05 and the male is on the platform at 15:40, watches the sky for five minutes, then leaves and again at 15:50 and 16:00. The female is back on the eggs at 16:10. The male lands briefly carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey and flies off with the female close behind. The male lands at 17:15 for five minutes and she returns well fed at 17:30. She falls asleep and remains incubating until midnight at least. Incubation Time: Female 17h:35m; Male 00h:30m; Total 18h:05m.
31 March – the male arrives at 1:00 to take over incubation but does not cover the eggs. The female sits on the ledge, and he moves to the opposite side five minutes later. She returns to the eggs after a further five minutes. He flies off at 1:15 and she remains on the eggs until 5:55 when he takes over. He flies out at 6:15 and the female is back ten minutes later. The male is back at 6:40 and the pair fly off together. She resumes incubation at 7:05 when there is a hail shower. The male lands at 7:55 and the female checks the skies but returns to the eggs when he flies off. She leaves at 9:30 for ten minutes and again at 10:00 for 25 minutes. The male is back at 10:35 and the pair fly out together. The male has three short stops before the female returns to the eggs at 11:15. He lands again at 11:30 and the pair fly off – lots of intruder activity again today. She is back five minutes later until 11:45, then 11:55 for another five minutes and is back at 12:05 until 14:05. She returns 15 minutes later carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey which she plucks and feeds on the platform until flying off to stash the remains at 14:45. She is back at 15:00 but leaves with the male when he lands at 15:10; she is back after 15 minutes. At 16:45, she flies off returning 30 minutes later. She leaves at 18:45 to be replaced by the male. He is off at 19:05 to pick at scraps on the platform, flying off five minutes later. The female is back on the eggs at 19:25 and the male lands on the ledge at 20:10 and falls asleep. They both remain until midnight at least. Incubation Time: Female 19h:10m; Male 00h:40m; Total 19h:50m.