MARCH 2023
1 Mar – once again, the male arrives at 6:20. He sits on the ledge looking out into the dark before flying off after 15 minutes. The pair fly into the box for a bonding session at 13:35. The male leaves a few minutes later and is quickly followed by the female. They are back at 17:30. The male goes into the box but the female flies off immediately.
2 Mar – the pair fly into the box at 6:55 for a brief bonding session and leave a few minutes later. The female lands at 16:05, looks out over the city for a few minutes, then leaves.
3 Mar – the pair arrive at 6:40 and the male goes into the box. The female stands on the platform, looks out and immediately flies off. The male walks to the ledge, looks out and follows five minutes later. The male arrives at 11:05 and disturbs two Stock Dove that just manage to escape. He does a quick U-turn and leaves. He is back at 17:20 with a full crop, looking well fed but leaves soon after.
4 Mar – the male flies into the box at 6:45, then sits on the ledge for a few minutes before flying off. The female lands at 7:25, calls from the platform then moves into the box where she makes a scrape in the stones. She flies out five minutes later. The male is back briefly at 8:55, and again at 14:20 and 16:35.
5 Mar – the pair arrive at 6:20 and the male goes into the box. The female sits on the ledge looking over the city, then flies off. The male follows five minutes later but returns almost immediately and sits on the ledge until 6:35. We know from one of our viewers that both birds were sitting on spire crosses around lunchtime, with the female calling periodically. The pair fly into the box at 14:25. The male leaves after a few minutes and the female soon follows.
6 Mar – the female lands on the ledge at 4:15 until 6:25 when she flies off. The pair fly into the box for a short bonding session at 6:40. The male soon moves to the ledge, swallows a few stones, then leaves at 6:50. The female moves to the ledge and flies off.
7 Mar – the pair arrive at 6:15 and the male goes into the box and stands in the scrape that has been made, whilst the female remains on the ledge. She soon leaves and he follows a few minutes later. They are back at 7:55, the male carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey which the female snatches from him and flies off. He looks well fed and sits on the ledge for a few minutes, then leaves. The male flies into the box at 12:00 and is followed by a Stock Dove that sits on the ledge. He moves to the platform and the Stock Dove jumps out of reach and drops off the ledge. The male flies off a few minutes later. The male is back at 14:20 carrying fresh Blackbird prey pursued by the female. She grabs it from him and flies off and he quickly follows. They are back again at 16:30 and go into the box for a short bonding session. The male soon leaves and the female tends to the scrape. She flies off a few minutes later.
8 Mar – the male arrives at 6:15, looks around the box then sits on the ledge for a few minutes before leaving. The female lands very briefly at 7:00 and the male pays a visit 30 minutes later. He returns at 8:00 but quickly leaves. The female lands at 9:40 looking well fed but with ruffled feather on her chest; this may be due to interaction with an intruder. At 14:00, the snow starts to fall and cover the platform. The snow intensifies at 18:00 and by midnight there was a thick layer.
9 Mar – the pair fly onto the snow-covered platform at 5:50. The male goes into the box, but the female flies off immediately. He moves to the ledge and looks out over the city. He remains on the ledge in the snow until leaving at 8:45. The rest of the day is dominated by snow fall until 22:00 when rain starts to dissolve the snow on the platform.
10 Mar – the snow continued to melt overnight and was virtually clear by 3:00. The female lands at 5:25 and sits on the ledge. She goes into the box five minutes later and shelters from the very strong, gusty wind. She flies out an hour later. The male arrives at 9:15, checks the box, then leaves. The pair are back at 12:55 and go into the box. The male leaves a few minutes later and the female remains until 13:10, as she makes scrapes in four different places. The male is back in the box at 15:35 for five minutes, then leaves.
11 Mar – the pair arrive at 6:15. The male goes into the box, but the female leaves immediately. He follows ten minutes later. They are back at 7:30 and again, he goes into the box whilst she quickly leaves, he then follows. They return at 8:05 and both go into the box. The male leaves after a few moments and she follows a few minutes later. The female is back at 8:20 showing an aggressive stance; there may be an intruder in the area. She soon leaves. The male lands on the ledge at 12:50 for five minutes. The pair are back at 14:30 and go into the box. The male moves to the ledge after five minutes, then flies off and the female leaves soon after. She returns very briefly at 16:50. The male lands at 18:15 leaving ten minutes later. The female lands on the ledge at 23:15 and remains until at least midnight.
12 Mar – the female remains on the ledge until 5:55 when she goes into the box with the arrival of the male. She flies out quickly and he moves to the ledge where he preens until flying off at 6:10. The pair fly into the box 20 minutes later. The male leaves after five minutes and the female ten minutes later. The male arrives with Feral Pigeon prey at 7:40 quickly followed by the female. She snatches the meal and flies off. He sits on the ledge for a few minutes then leaves. The pair are back at 8:30 and spend a few minutes in the box together. The male then sits on the ledge for ten minutes whilst the female makes scrapes in the box. She flies off at 8:45. The male makes a very brief visit at 10:25. He is back at 11:25 and sits on the ledge for 15 minutes. He returns at 17:00 carrying Feral Pigeon prey and is followed by the female who snatches the meal from him and flies off. He leaves a few minutes later.
13 Mar – the female flies in at 1:40 and sits on the ledge. She is joined by the male at 2:05 who sits on the opposite ledge. They fly off together at 6:00. He is back at 6:50 and spend a few minutes in the box. The female is back briefly at 7:20 and again an hour later. The female flies into the box at 8:50 and the male lands at 9:00. He flies off at 10:00 and she watches him go; she flies out at 11:25. The male is back on the ledge at 12:40 for five minutes and the female drops in briefly at 14:15. The pair land at 15:55 but the female leaves immediately; it looks like there is an intruder around. The male watches from the ledge, then flies off at 16:10. He is back with fresh Blackbird prey at 18:30 but leaves with it a few minutes later.
14 Mar – the male lands on the ledge at 1:55. He walks into the box when the female arrives at 6:50. She does not stay long, and he flies off five minutes later. He is back at 7:30 carrying fresh Blackbird prey and is quickly followed by the female. However, she leaves immediately without taking the meal and the he flies off with it. The pair are back at 8:50 and go into the box for five minutes bonding before leaving. The female returns briefly at 9:40, the male at 11:00 and the female again at 13:10; their postures suggesting an intruding bird in the area. The female spends a few minutes making scrapes before leaving after ten minutes. The male lands for five minutes at 16:35 and again at 18:00.
15 Mar – the pair fly in at 5:45, the female going into the box whilst the male sits on the ledge. He flies off after a few minutes and she moves to the platform and watches the skies before leaving. They are back at 6:45; the female back in the box, the male on the ledge. He flies off and she soon follows. The pair return briefly at 7:10. The male checks out the box at 10:05, then leaves and returns briefly at 10:55. The pair are back at 11:35 but soon leave. At 15:40, the male lands carrying a large item of fresh prey. The female is right behind him and snatches it and flies off. He sits on the ledge for a few minutes, then leaves. The female, now looking well fed, lands briefly at 16:30.
16 Mar – the pair arrive at 2:15 and fall asleep on the ledge. The male flies off at 5:55 and the female follows soon after. The male is back at 6:40 and sits on the ledge looking out over the city. The pair return at 9:20 and go into the box. The male moves to the ledge after five minutes whilst the female makes scrapes in the box. The male flies off at 10:05 and she follows. They are back in the box at 14:20 and the male moves to the ledge after a few minutes bonding. They leave together at 14:30 and the male returns briefly ten minutes later. The male flies in at 15:20 carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey with the female right behind. She snatches the meal from him and flies off and he sits on the ledge until 15:45. The female lands briefly an hour later with a full crop.
17 Mar – the pair arrive at 6:10 for a brief bonding session, then leave. The male flies in carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 6:25 and the female follows quickly and takes it from him. He is back at 8:00, checks the box then leaves, and again at 9:15. The male brings another Feral Pigeon prey at 12:15, but leaves as the female is not around. There is no further activity today.
18 Mar – the pair arrive at 5:55 and go into the box. After a few minutes bonding, the male moves to the ledge, then flies off. The female follows five minutes later. She is back at 6:45 and sits on the ledge for ten minutes. She returns with the male at 7:00 and they go into the box. The male leaves quickly and the female ten minutes later. She is back at 9:05 looking well fed and carrying the remains of her meal but soon leaves. The male arrives at 9:20 and goes into the box but flies out after a few minutes. The female is in the box very briefly at 15:05. The male lands on the ledge at 22:50. He falls asleep and remains until at least midnight.
19 Mar – [the cameras were playing up again today] – the male remains on the ledge until 5:40 when he flies off. The female lands briefly at 6:45, then the pair fly in at 7:40 for a short bonding session. The male lands briefly at 12:55 and again at 17:30. The female then flies in and sits on the ledge for five minutes. The male is back for a few minutes at 18:25.
20 Mar – the female lands on the ledge at 00:50 and falls asleep. She takes a short flight at 5:45, probably looking for breakfast, then flies off five minutes later. The male lands, goes into the box then leaves. The pair return at 6:00 but the male leaves quickly. The female sits on the ledge for 20 minutes before taking a short flight. She leaves again at 6:30 and is back briefly at 9:25. The male arrives at 12:15 with a small item of food which the female takes from him; they both leave. The female returns briefly at 17:40. She is back on the ledge at 20:45 remaining until midnight at least.
21 Mar – the female remains on the ledge until 5:30 when she is joined by the male, and they fly off. They are back at 5:55 and go into the box. The male soon moves to the ledge, then flies off. The female replaces him on the ledge and leaves at 6:20. They are back at 11:30 and the female goes into the box but the male leaves quickly; she flies off 30 minutes later. The pair make another visit to the box at 12:40. The male leaves quickly and she flies out an hour later. She is back at 16:20 and is joined a few minutes later by the male carrying a fresh meal. She goes into the box, but he flies off with his meal and she follows. The male is back on the ledge at 16:55 looking well fed. He flies off at 18:35 and returns at 20:55, remaining until midnight at least.
22 Mar – the female joins the male on the ledge at 00:40. The female leaves at 5:35, is back five minutes later and he goes into the box but quickly flies out. They are back at 8:00 when the male brings in Great Tit prey for the female; they then fly off. The male is back at 13:55 looking well fed but does not stay. He is back again at 16:25 and settles on the ledge until 17:55. He returns at 22:45 and remains on the ledge until midnight at least.
23 Mar – the male remained on the ledge and was joined by the female at 00:10. They fly off together at 5:10. The male is back 15 minutes later but leaves at 5:40. He returns briefly at 6:20. The female goes into the box at 6:35 flying out at 7:00. The male is back briefly at 7:25 and 7:35. He bounces off the ledge at 11:05, calling loudly. The female flies into the box at 11:30 remaining until 12:05. [Today we held our first Peregrine Watch of the year, and it didn’t disappoint. Both the male and female sat on the spire crosses for most of our time there. What we were also able to confirm was that there was an intruding female. The resident male seeing her out of the territory whilst the female watched from the box. The pair were also seen mating on at least three occasions, so we are hopeful there will be some eggs produced in the next couple of days.]
24 Mar – the female lands at 00:15. She is joined by the male carrying a small item of prey at 2:50. She flies off at 5:10 and the he follows 15 minutes later. The male is back at 7:55 for 15 minutes. The female bounces off the platform at 12:25; there looks to be an intruder in the vicinity, and is back briefly at 12:55. The male arrives at 15:45 looking well fed and carrying his part-eaten meal of Feral Pigeon. The female lands and snatches it from him and flies out and he follows. The female is back briefly at 18:45. The male lands at 19:30 remaining until 21:00. He is back at 22:05 and is joined by the female at 23:40 and goes into the box, both remaining until at least midnight.
25 Mar – the female moves to the ledge to join the male at 1:05. The male goes into the box at 5:15, then quickly flies out. The female leaves at 5:40 and is back at 6:00 but has three quick flights; the possibility of an intruder in the area. The male lands at 6:20 for five minutes. The pair are back at 8:40 but he leaves quickly and she leaves five minutes later. The male lands at 11:00 for a few minutes and the female is back briefly at 12:20 and the pair land at 12:35. She leaves quicky but he remains until 13:00. He is back at 15:30 but does not stay long. The female returns again at 19:05 and goes into the box. She moves to the platform at 23:10, then to the ledge at 23:30.
26 Mar – the female moves to the box at 6:40 when the male arrives, but he does not remain long; she flies out at 6:50. The male flies in at 7:15 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey and is quickly followed by the female. He takes it into the box and she calls from the ledge until flying off after a few minutes. He plucks the pigeon, stashes it in the box and leaves at 7:30. He is back on the ledge at 8:15 and the female can be seen flying past. He leaves after a few minutes. He returns at 8:50, goes into the box and retrieves the stashed pigeon then flies out at 9:20. The pair fly in at 12:20 and go into the box. The male soon leaves and she flies out at 12:55. The pair are back at 16:45 but neither stay long. The male lands at 18:15 with a full crop and goes into the box, then moves to the ledge flying off at 18:35.
27 Mar – the pair fly in at 6:40 but the male leaves quickly; she follows ten minutes later. The male is back briefly at 7:45. The female lands at 7:50 and goes into the box, flying out after 25 minutes. She is back at 12:00 and goes into the box until leaving at 12:25. The female returns at 16:05 and is in the box for 15 minutes before flying out. She is back in the box at 19:55 moving to the ledge at 23:55.
28 Mar – the female remains on the ledge from the previous evening. She flies off at 00:35, returning 20 minutes later. She is off again at 1:05 and back at 2:15, goes into the box and the corner scrape. Her posture changes at 2:30 and five minutes later the FIRST EGG of the season is laid. She stands over the egg waiting for it to dry until 3:10 when she makes the first incubation. The male flies in at 6:35 and see the egg for the first time. The female then flies out, and he follows. The male is back at 10:25 and goes into the box, exchanges calls with the female, then they fly out. They return together an hour later, and the female covers the egg; the male leaves. He is back at 11:30 and the female flies out. He goes into the box and has his first incubation stint remaining on the egg remaining until 15:20 when he moves to the ledge, then flies off. The female is back at 16:10 and incubates but leaves quickly 20 minutes later. The male returns a few minutes later carrying fresh Blackbird prey but soon leaves with it. He lands without his meal at 16:40, watches the sky then flies off after ten minutes. The female is back at 18:45 and resumes incubation until midnight at least.
29 Mar – just after midnight, the female leaves the scrape and moves to the ledge. She returned to the egg at 3:15 and stands over it but not fully incubating. She resumes incubation an hour later. She is back on the ledge at 5:25 and flies off at 6:15 to be replaced by the male; he starts incubation. He flies out after 20 minutes and is replaced by the female at 6:50. She is off again at 7:40 returning at 8:20, only to leave an hour later. She is back on the egg at 10:15 until flying out at 13:55. She returns to the egg at 16:10. At 19:00, she walks to the ledge and looks out, then flies off. The male lands carrying fresh Starling prey, but quickly leaves as the female was not there. The pair return at 19:35; the female covers the egg and the male flies off. From 21:00 until midnight, she stands over the egg but does not fully incubate.
30 Mar – the female remained over the egg until 00:45 when she moved to the ledge. She is joined by the male at 2:10. Initially she moves towards the egg to protect it but relaxes when she realises it is her partner. They sit opposite each other and fall asleep. The female flies off at 5:15 and the male quickly follows. The female is back at 7:05 and incubates the egg. She flies out at 10:05, and a well-fed male sits on the ledge 15 minutes later. He leaves after ten minutes, and she returns to cover the egg at 11:30. She starts to get restless 20 minutes later and at 11:50 lays the SECOND EGG of the season. This egg is very close to the rear of the box and gets missed in the initial incubation but is covered within 30 minutes. The male lands on the ledge calling loudly at 13:10 and leaves quickly with the female. She returns at 13:30 and resumes incubation. She leaves at 18:15 and is back at 18:50. She incubates fully until 22:40 when she stands over the eggs. She leaves them 15 minutes later and sits on the ledge until resuming incubation at 23:05.
31 Mar – the female remains on the eggs until the male arrives at 1:40. She rushes out knocking him off the ledge. He returns a few minutes later and incubates the eggs. The female is back at 2:35 and sits on the ledge. The male sees her and calls quietly. He moves to the opposite ledge ten minutes later and the female goes to incubate the eggs; he remains on the ledge. The female flies out at 5:35 and the male watches her go but does not cover the eggs. He flies off at 6:20 and the female returns at 7:10 to incubate the eggs. The male arrives at 11:55 and takes over incubation duties as the female flies out. She is back at 16:45 calling loudly from the ledge, and there is a swap at the scrape five minutes later. The male returns at 17:05 with the remains of an old meal. The female snatches it and eats on the platform; he flies off. She is back on the eggs 20 minutes later. The male brings in fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 18:00. He flies out and she follows with her meal. She is back 40 minutes later with a full crop and resumes incubation until midnight at least.