MARCH 2024
1 Mar – the male sits on the ledge until 1:20 when he is joined by the female. He leaves ten minutes later but is back at 3:25 until 6:00; the female quickly follows. The male returns at 6:25 and takes a brief flight ten minutes later, then leaves at 6:45. He is back briefly at 12:35 and at 12:55 carrying Feral Pigeon prey but quickly leaves. He lands again at 14:20 until 14:55. He is back a few minutes later with the female who goes into the box to tend the scrape. He leaves soon after but she remains. He is back at 16:35 and she flies out ten minutes later. He flies off at 16:50. He is back again briefly at 18:00, then ten minutes later settles on the ledge until 21:00 when he takes a short flight before returning to the ledge remaining until 22:15.
2 Mar – the pair fly in at 4:55 but the male quickly leaves whilst the female remains until 6:30. He is back at 8:55 for ten minutes. The pair return at 9:25 and have a brief bond in the box. The male then moves to the ledge and flies out; the female follows at 9:45. They are back at 15:10 but the male soon leaves whilst the female tends to the scrape and box. The male is back on the ledge at 16:55 for a few minutes and the female leaves at 17:05. The male arrives soon after, staying until 17:45. Neither bird returns before midnight.
3 Mar – the female arrives at 3:20 and sits on the ledge for 15 minutes. She is back ten minutes later and is joined by the male at 6:05. He flies off after five minutes and she follows at 6:30 and he lands briefly. He is back at 7:10 for five minutes and again at 7:35. He returns at 10:45 for ten minutes and briefly at 12:00. The female lands at 13:30 and goes into the box until flying out at 14:10 to be replaced by the male for a few minutes. She is back at 15:00 but leaves quickly. The male returns at 17:30 carrying the remains of Feral Pigeon prey. As he was already looking well fed, this was probably an offering for the female. He is back on the ledge at 18:35 remaining until 22:20.
4 Mar – the male arrives at 5:25 until 6:10. He is back two hours later, checks the box, then flies out. The pair arrive at 14:35, but the male quickly leaves; the female remains until 15:05. They are back at 16:30 but as usual, the male soon flies out; she follows after 15 minutes. The male is back at 17:30 carrying Feral Pigeon prey and is quickly followed by the female who snatches it from him and flies off. He looks well fed and sits on the ledge until at least midnight.
5 Mar – the male remains on the ledge until 6:05 when he is joined by the female, and they go into the box. Surprisingly, she leaves soon after and he moves back to the ledge, then quickly follows. He is back at 9:25 for five minutes with a full crop. The pair fly in at 13:05, both looking well fed. Again, she leaves immediately and he follows a few minutes later. The male is back briefly at 15:35. The pair arrive together at 17:05, the male carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey. As the female is already well fed, he stashes it by a column. He flies off whilst the female tends to the scrape then picks up the meal as she flies out ten minutes later. She returns briefly at 17:40.
6 Mar – the male arrives at 6:15 for 20 minutes. The pair fly in at 8:15 but the male quickly leaves. The female remains until 8:35. The male lands at 10:30 looking well fed and carrying Feral Pigeon prey. He flies off with it a few minutes later. He is back at 13:35, checks out the box, then leaves a few minutes later. The female is back at 14:30 and watches the sky from the ledge for a few minutes before moving into the box. She leaves at 14:55. The male lands briefly at 15:50 and the pair return at 17:30. They have a short bonding session, then the male moves to the ledge before flying off. The female leaves a few minutes later. The male returns at 18:55 remaining on the ledge until just before midnight.
7 Mar – the female flies in at 2:30. She is joined by the male at 6:05 and goes into the box. He quickly leaves and she moves back to the ledge. The male is back at 9:05 for ten minutes. The pair returns at 12:45 and go into the box. The male moves to the ledge a few minutes later. He flies off after ten minutes and the female follows at 13:20. She is back briefly at 16:05. The pair return at 17:00 with the male carrying the remains of a Feral Pigeon. He leaves it in the box with the female and flies out. She grabs the meal and leaves. There is no further activity.
8 Mar – the female flies in at 3:00. She goes into the box at 5:25 when the male lands on the ledge. The male leaves ten minutes later and She is back on the ledge and flies out at 6:15. The male arrives at 7:15 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey and is followed by the female who snatches it from him and leaves followed by the male a few minutes later. The pair arrive at 9:40 and go into the box. The male leaves after a few minutes but the female remains until 10:40. He is back briefly at 13:05 and again a few minutes later. He returns again at 15:30 and goes into the box, flying out after ten minutes. The pair are back at 16:30 but the male quickly leaves. The female remains until 18:05.
9 Mar – the male arrives at 6:15 for five minutes and again at 7:20. The pair fly in at 7:55 but the male quickly leaves; the female flies out an hour later. She returns at 10:20 and is in the box until 11:25. She is back at 14:20 and goes into the box before leaving at 14:45. She returns looking well fed at 18:20 but quickly leaves. There is no further activity today.
10 Mar – the female arrives at 4:25 and goes into the box when the male flies in at 5:55. He quickly leaves and she flies out at 6:05. The male lands briefly 15 minutes later. The pair fly in at 9:30 and the male goes into the box and flies out after five minutes. The female replaces him in the box before leaving at 9:55. The male is back briefly at 15:25 and the female at 15:45. The pair return at 16:15, the male carrying part-eaten prey. He flies off with it and is followed by the female.
11 Mar – the female flies in at 7:00 looking well fed and carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey but leaves a few minutes later. The male lands briefly at 7:15 and 7:55. He is back at 10:15 and goes into the box and tends the scrape. He moves to the ledge then flies out at 10:35 and immediately returns with the female. They go into the box but the male quickly leaves; the female flies out at 10:55. The pair fly in again at 18:55 but the female quickly leaves and the male remains on the ledge until 21:00.
12 Mar – the female flies in at 1:00. She goes into the box when the male arrives at 5:35. He flies off after 30 minutes and she returns to the ledge, leaving at 6:25. The pair fly in looking wet and bedraggled at 10:35. The female goes into the box and the male leaves. She flies out at 10:50. He is back at 11:45 for 30 minutes. The pair are back at 13:50, she goes into the box, but he quickly leaves and she follows soon after. The pair return at 16:10 and go into the box. The male quickly leaves and the female at 16:40. He is back at 17:05 and checks the box before moving to the ledge and flying off at 17:45. He returns looking well fed at 18:05 but flies off 20 minutes later.
13 Mar – the female arrives at 1:25. The male joins her at 5:15 and she goes into the box. He leaves ten minutes later and she returns to the ledge before flying off at 6:00. He makes a brief visit at 6:35 and again at 7:30. The pair fly in an hour later. He quickly leaves but she remains until 8:40. He is back for a few minutes at 10:10. The pair return at 12:50 but he quickly leaves whilst she remains in the box until 13:00. They are back at 14:25. He leaves quickly as usual, and she follows at 14:40. He makes a brief visit 15 minutes later. At 15:55, the pair fly in for the fourth time today. He quickly leaves, but she remains much longer in the box. She sits in, or close to the right-hand scrape. The male lands on the ledge at 18:50 whilst the female remains in the box until 19:40 when she sits on the ledge opposite the male. Her posture and demeanour in the box this afternoon would suggest that she may be ready to lay an egg! The pair remain on the ledge until at least midnight.
14 Mar – the pair remain on the ledge from the previous evening until 3:50 when the male flies off. He is back at 5:55 and the female goes into the box. He leaves quickly and she soon follows. The male is back briefly at 6:10. The pair fly in at 10:45, the female in the box, the male on the ledge. As usual, he quickly leaves whilst she remains until 11:15 tending both left and right scrapes. The male is back briefly at 11:25 and 13:45. He returns at 15:00 and flies out at 16:30 returning immediately with the female. They go into the box but he quickly moves back to the ledge, then flies off. He is back at 16:50 carrying fresh Blackbird prey, shows it to the female but then flies off; she soon follows. The female flies in at 22:30 and sits on the ledge until midnight at least.
15 Mar – the female remains on the ledge until 5:05 when she goes into the box as the male arrives. She flies out at 5:30 and he checks out the box before returning to the ledge. He makes two short flights at 6:10, then leaves. He is back very briefly at 7:20. The female returns at 9:15 and goes into the box where she remains until 10:40 sitting in the scrapes. The male lands briefly five minutes later. At 14:50 he arrives carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey and is followed by the female. She snatches the meal from him and he flies off; she leaves soon after. She returns at 16:00 looking well fed and goes into the box tending the scrapes and then falls asleep. She flies out at 17:45 and is replaced by the male. He checks the box then sits on the ledge until 18:30. Neither bird returns before midnight.
16 Mar – the male arrives at 5:15 until 5:40. The female flies in at 7:20 and picks at some scraps, then leaves. The male is back at 7:55 and goes into the box, then moves to the ledge before flying off. The female returns a few minutes later and goes into the box spending time in both scrapes. The male is back at 8:20 carrying fresh Blackbird prey but quickly leaves with it. The female leaves at 8:50. The male is back very briefly at 11:40 and the female flies into the box at 14:55 for 25 minutes. The male is back on the ledge at 18:50 and is joined by the female at 23:25. He flies out and she goes into the box.
17 Mar – the female remains in the box until 00:45 when she moves to the ledge where she remains until 6:05 when she goes into the box on the arrival of the male. She then flies out and he sits on the ledge. She is back at 6:45 and the pair go into the box. She flies out after a few minutes, and he soon follows. She is back at 9:05 and is in the box until 9:30 tending both scrapes. The male flies in at 10:20 for ten minutes also tending the scrapes. The male lands looking well fed at 12:05 for five minutes. The female flies in at 12:55 also looking well fed, but quickly leaves. The female returns at 16:05 and goes into the box and tends both scrapes. She looks over the city from the platform for ten minutes at 16:30, then returns to the box. The male makes a brief visit at 17:10. The female’s posture changes and just five minutes later she produces the FIRST EGG of the season. The male is back with fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 17:40 but quickly leaves with it. She stands over the egg to let it dry and eventually incubates it at 17:50. She protects the egg for the rest of the evening with just a quick visit to the ledge at 21:25.
18 Mar – the female semi-incubates the egg through the night. The male makes a brief visit to the ledge at 5:30. He is back at 6:15 and there is a change-over. For the first time the male incubates the egg, and the female flies off. She is back an hour later to resume. She checks the platform at 8:15 for ten minutes then returns to the egg. Five minutes later the male returns with Coal Tit prey for the female and he has a second bout of incubation but flies off after just five minutes. The female returns to incubate at 10:45 for 30 minutes then leaves. She is back at 14:05 and stands beside the egg. She is replaced by the male at 16:15 and he does incubate fully but leaves at 16:50. The female is back with the egg at 18:35 but does not fully incubate. She moves to the ledge at midnight.
19 Mar – the female returns to the egg at 00:10 although does not fully incubate. The male arrives at 1:10 and sits on the ledge and falls asleep. She sits opposite him at 4:30 and he flies off 15 minutes later. She returns to the egg at 5:25 but ten minutes later the male returns and takes over and she flies out. He moves to the ledge after ten minutes, then flies off. The female returns at 6:45 and fully incubates. She flies out at 8:05 and returns with the male at 8:45. He goes and incubates the egg whilst she watches from the platform then takes over incubation ten minutes later. She flies out at 11:40 returns after ten minutes. She is off again at 12:35 and is back after 20 minutes. She leaves at 13:45 returning to the egg at 16:10 for an hour. She is back at 17:55 and incubates until at least midnight. The male makes a brief visit at 18:20.
20 Mar – the female stands over the egg without incubating, then moves to the platform at 2:15. She is back ten minutes later. She leaves the box again at 4:55 and sits on the ledge and is joined by the male at 5:30. They fly off together. The male comes in to incubate at 5:55 but only remains for five minutes. The female is back at 6:15 and incubates the egg. Her demeanour changes at 7:45 and five minutes later she laid her SECOND EGG. She incubates both eggs 15 minutes later but leaves after five minutes to sit on the ledge before flying off. She returns to the eggs at 9:25 looking well fed and incubates fully. She checks the platform an hour later then returns to the eggs. She is replaced by the male at 14:00. He moves to the ledge at 15:20 and is replaced by the female. She flies out at 17:40 returning 30 minutes later and remains incubating until midnight.
21 Mar – the female sits on the platform at 1:45 for ten minutes, then returns to the eggs. She leaves three hours later when the male arrives, but he just sits on the ledge until 5:30. She returns at 5:40 but leaves the eggs ten minutes later then flies off at 6:10. She is back at 6:35 for 15 minutes then leaves until 7:35, returning looking well fed. The male pays a brief visit at 7:05, then sits on the ledge with a full crop at 8:30 for ten minutes. She flies out at 10:15 and the male takes over 15 minutes later. He flies out at 12:25 and she takes over 15 minutes later. The male is back at 14:05 but flies out when the female approaches. She follows soon after returning at 14:30. The male flies in at 14:45 with fresh Feral Pigeon prey for the female. She takes it into the box and feeds and he flies off. She leaves with the remains at 15:00 and quickly returns to resume incubation. At 14:00, she tidies up the box from the meal leftovers and has a quick look over the city from the platform at 16:30, then flies out at 17:55. The male takes over incubation at 18:05 until 18:55 when he sits on the ledge. The female arrives ten minutes later to take over and he flies off. She incubates until at least midnight.
22 Mar – the female moves to the platform at 1:20. She flies off 15 minutes later, returning at 1:55. She leaves the eggs again at 4:05 and sits on the ledge returning at 4:40. She is replaced by the male at 5:45 until 6:05. She is back at 6:20 but just for ten minutes, then from at 7:45 until 9:55. She returns at 11:25 and the male takes over an hour later. He leaves at 14:15 and she takes over ten minutes later. She has a ten-minute break at 14:45 and is off again at 15:35 returning at 16:15. The male lands on the ledge at 17:15 for five minutes and she walks to the platform briefly. At 17:45 her position changes and the THIRD EGG is laid – a very pale specimen. She incubates all three eggs for the rest of the evening.
23 Mar – the female remains on the eggs until 4:40 when she goes looking for the male, then quickly returns. She has another look at 4:55. He flies in at 5:30 to take over. She is back at 7:55 and he leaves. She flies out at 9:15 but is back after ten minutes. She is off again at 9:35 for another five minutes. There is a changeover at 13:05. The male is replaced after two hours. At 15:40 she flies out returning 30 minutes later looking well fed. The male arrives on the ledge at 18:30 and there is a late change at 19:00, the female watching from the platform. She resumes incubation after 35 minutes for the rest of the evening.
24 Mar – the female incubates the eggs until 5:15 when the male takes over. He flies out at 6:00 and she resumes. There is another swap at 7:25 and the female returns 20 minutes later and watches from the ledge then takes over at 8:20. She leaves at 9:15 and the well-fed male incubates until she returns, also now well fed, at 9:50. She checks where the male is at 14:25 then moves back to the eggs. He eventually takes over at 15:40, nearly six hours later! She is back at 18:30 incubating until midnight at least.
25 Mar – the first change of the day was at 5:30 until 7:10. Just ten minutes later the female stands up in the scrape and lays the FOURTH EGG. The male brings in fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 9:15 and she flies out with it; he takes over incubation. She is back briefly at 10:00 and at 11:15 he reluctantly relinquishes incubation. She leaves the eggs at 13:35 for 15 minutes. The male is back incubating at 15:10 but is forced off again at 17:05.
26 Mar – the male takes over at 5:15 and the female is back at 7:50. He returns to incubate at 13:20. The female lands briefly at 13:50 but the male remains on the eggs until 17:35. He flies in with Feral Pigeon prey at 18:10, she flies out with it and he takes over until 18:55 when the female resumes for the rest of the evening.
27 Mar – the female sits on the eggs until 5:20 when the male takes over. She returns to resume after two hours. The male lands on the ledge briefly at 11:30 and there is another swap at 12:10. She is back at 15:15 until 17:45 when the male has his last session of the day; she takes over at 19:15. The male sits on the ledge for 15 minutes, whilst she incubates for the rest of the evening. Whilst doing the first Peregrine Watch of the season, mid-morning in St Martins Square, we were treated to the sight of the resident male doing his best to fend off an intruding female. He repeatedly dive-bombed her until he had forced her from the territory, then returned triumphant to the spire. The resident female sat on the eggs oblivious of the activity. Thank you to everyone who made the effort to come and meet us today despite the weather, it was great to see you all.
28 Mar – the male takes over incubation at 5:15 and she returns at 9:10 and takes a short flight at 10:35. The male is back at 12:20 until the female resumes at 16:05, then remains on the eggs for the rest of the evening. The male arrives on the ledge at 18:45 and keeps the female company. They both fall asleep until at least midnight.
29 Mar – the female remains on the eggs whilst the male sits on the ledge sleeping until 5:00 when he takes over incubation as she flies out. He takes a short flight from the eggs at 6:00 and she is back at 7:20. The male returns at 8:40 with fresh Feral Pigeon prey for the female, and he has another incubation stint. She resumes at 9:05. The male lands briefly at 12:30 and is back at 13:00 to take over. The female returns at 14:45 and goes into the box but the male is reluctant to give up so she stays in the corner of the box until forcing him off at 15:05. He sits on the ledge two hours later for 20 minutes. He is back on the ledge at 18:40. After copious preening, he flies off at 22:55; the female remains on the eggs.
30 Mar – the male flies onto the ledge at 2:20 and the first swap over is at 4:45, but the female is back 45 minutes later. There is another change at 6:30 when the male arrives with fresh Feral Pigeon prey. The female returns at 7:55 looking well fed. She continues incubation until 14:55 – a seven-hour stint. The male then also has a relatively long stint, being relieved at 18:45. The female remains incubating until midnight at least.
31 Mar – the male arrives to relieve the female at 5:55. He flies out to check where she is at 9:00, then returns to the eggs. She flies in to take over at 10:30. The male sits on the ledge briefly at 13:00 but next changeover is not until 15:10. The male flies out at 18:55 and the female incubates for the rest of the evening.