MAY 2020
During April, there was a lot of activity from an intruding female. This cumulated in a ferocious fight on the 27th. The result being that the resident female was ousted by the intruding bird. The following commentary therefore relates to the NEW FEMALE. Where there may be interaction with the previous resident, she will be designated OLDF.
1 May – the female sits on the ledge until 1:50 when she flies out and returns a few moments later with the male. He goes into the box and there is calling between the pair. After a few minutes he covers the eggs whilst she sits on the ledge. He flies out at 3:55. At 5:05, she flies out and returns a few moments later with the male and they go into the box where there is calling and posturing; he flies off a few minutes later. She goes onto the platform and looks to make a scrape before settling back on the ledge. She has a quick flight at 5:35and again 5 minutes later. At 5:45, she flies off and the male flies in. He sits on the ledge until 6:00 when he flies out and the female returns briefly. He is back 5 minutes later but is replaced by the female at 6:20. Again, she makes a scrape on the platform and also in the box. She stands next to the eggs for 5 minutes and the male arrives. There is calling and posturing. He flies off after a few minutes and she walks to the ledge and follows. He is back at 7:00 and looks well fed. He goes into the box at 8:10 when the female returns but she only remains for 5 minutes. He flies off a few minutes later. She pays a quick visit at 8:20 and he is back at 8:35 but again does not stay long. They return together at 8:40 but he flies out soon after and she follows. He is back 10 minutes later and is joined by the female at 8:55. There is a lot of calling and posturing on the platform before he flies off. She remains on the ledge and dozes. She flies off 25 minutes later. The male is back at 9:45 and leaves 10 after minutes but returns at 10:05. He is displaced a few minutes later. She flies off at 10:30 but soon returns with the male. He stands over the eggs and there is calling between the pair until he flies out a few moments later. She flies off at 11:10, returning after 15 minutes and dozes on the platform. The male joins her briefly at 12:05 and she flies after him but soon returns. She flies off at 13:10. The male is back at 14:05 and moves into the box 20 minutes later on the arrival of the female. He stands over the eggs and there is calling and posturing between the pair until he flies out after 5 minutes. She flies off at 14:50. The pair return at 15:40 and the male goes into the box and incubates the three eggs. She flies off 5 minutes later and he follows. The male returns at 16:25 remaining until 16:40. He is back at 17:00 and the female joins him with a full crop. She leaves soon after and he runs to the platform and watches her go and follows after 5 minutes. He is back at 17:15 remaining until 17:45 when the female lands briefly. She is back at 18:00 and goes into the box making a scrape close to the eggs before moving to the ledge where she dozes and falls asleep. The male joins her at 21:10 and there is calling and posturing. He goes into the box and she settles on the ledge but he leaves 10 minutes later as she falls asleep until midnight at least.
2 May – the female is sleeping on the ledge until 2:45 when the male flies in. She flies out 5 minutes later but soon returns and the male walks into the box. He covers the 3 eggs at 3:15. She takes a short flight at 3:25. He flies out at 3:45 and she remains on the ledge until 4:35 when she makes a scrape in the platform. She flies out at 5:05 and returns a few moments later with the male but when she follows him into the box, he makes a quick exit. She returns to the platform and makes a scrape before moving into the box where she makes a couple of scrapes near to the eggs. She flies out at 5:10 returning after 20 minutes calling loudly. She leaves 10 minutes later and the male flies in, walks into the box and covers the eggs. He moves to the ledge at 6:25 and looks around before flying off. He is back at 6:55 and goes into the box calling. He then sits on the ledge preening until 7:30 when he takes a quick flight before flying into the box and covering the eggs. He is back on the ledge at 8:00 and takes 4 short flights within 15 minutes. He settles back on the ledge and moves back into the box briefly at 8:40. He flies off at 9:20 and the female flies in a few moments later. She spends time moving stones and making scrapes in the box but makes no attempt to cover the eggs. The male lands briefly at 9:40 and she flies out after him. The male returns at 10:45 and goes to cover the eggs. He is back on the ledge at 11:05 and flies off 5 minutes later. The female is back at 13:00 with a full crop and the male joins her at 13:20. He goes into the box and covers the eggs whilst she sits dozing on the ledge. He flies out an hour later and she follows after 5 minutes. The male is back soon after and goes to cover the eggs until 15:00 when he flies out; he is back briefly at 15:30. The female returns at 16:00 and goes into the box for 10 minutes then moves to the ledge. She sits preening and dozing until flying off at 17:00. She is back 5 minutes later but is off again after another ten. At 17:40, she flies in and sits preening on the ledge until 18:15. The male is back, well fed, at 19:10 and covers the eggs. He moves to the ledge at 20:15 where he remains until midnight at least. It is most unusual for the male to stay on the platform during the night.
3 May – the male goes into the box at 1:35 on the arrival of the female. There is calling between the pair then the male covers the eggs whilst the female is on the ledge. When she goes into the box, the male flies out. She makes a couple of scrapes on the platform before moving back to the ledge and falling asleep. The male flies into the box again at 4:15 and there is quiet calling between the pair and he covers the eggs. They fly off together at 5:00 but the male returns soon after. He leaves at 5:15 and the female returns 10 minutes later. She goes into the box and makes a number of scrapes before flying off 10 minutes later. The male is back at 6:20 but leaves after 5 minutes. He is back again at 6:45 and goes into the box and covers the eggs. He moves to the ledge at 7:30 and flies off 5 minutes later, returning at 7:55 to covers the eggs. He makes a brief flight at 8:15 and again at 8:40 then makes a scrape on the platform before covering the eggs in the box. He is on the ledge at 9:30 flying off 30 minutes later. He returns to the eggs at 10:15 and is back on the ledge at 10:50. He flies off at 11:15 but returns to the eggs a couple of minutes later and on the ledge at 11:35. He flies off at 11:45 but returns with the female a few minutes later. He flies off when she goes into the box. She flies out after 10 minutes and the male returns briefly at 12:20. He is back at 12:50 and makes a couple of scrapes in the platform before covering the eggs. He flies out at speed at 13:25 and is back briefly 5 minutes later, then returns at 14:25 where he settles on the ledge for 15 minutes before covering the eggs. He makes another quick exit at 14:50. He is back briefly at 15:00 and for 5 minutes at 15:20. At 16:15, he flies in and makes a scrape in the platform before covering the eggs until 17:05 when he moves to the ledge. He flies out 5 minutes later and returns with the female a few moments later. She is well fed with a full crop. They go into the box and there is calling and posturing before he flies off. She walks around the box and platform scraping in the stones as she goes, then sits on the ledge at 17:25 where she preens and dozes. She walks into the box at 18:20 and the male makes a brief stop before she carries on moving stones and making scrapes working around the eggs before returning to the platform 15 minutes later and back to the ledge. The male flies into the box at 19:25 whilst she dozes on the ledge. He chips quietly to her before walking around the box and covering the third egg with his wing. He flies out at 19:50 and she remains on the ledge preening and dozing. The male is back in the box at 20:45 and again calls quietly to the female; flying out after 5 minutes. She falls asleep at 21:30, remaining until midnight at least.
4 May – the female remains on the ledge until 1:40 when she flies off to be replaced by the male 5 minutes later but he leaves after a further 5 minutes. He arrives again at 4:00 but leaves after 30 minutes. A heavy fog descends and he returns at 6:10, well fed, and remains on the ledge for 20 minutes before flying off. At 6:55, he returns and goes into the box and covers the eggs until 7:40 when he moves to the ledge and flies off. The female flies in at 8:10 and goes into the box where she moves a few stones around and makes a scrape before returning to the ledge and flying off at 8:25. The male is back at 10:20 for just 5 minutes. He is back again at 14:10 but again only remains for 5 minutes. The female flies in at 15:50 and goes into the box, moves some stones and makes a few scrapes. She moves to the ledge at 16:00 and flies out. The male is back 15 minutes later but again, only remains for 5 minutes. The female is back at 19:40 and goes into the box 5 minutes later. She moves some stones around and sits preening next to the eggs. The male flies in briefly at 20:05 and there is quietly calling between the pair but the female remains in the box. She continues to make scrapes and seems to have settled with one close to the original; the eggs obviously now displaced. She flies out at 20:40; probably the longest period she has spent in the box. Neither bird returns to the platform before the end of the evening.
5 May – the pair fly in together at 4:45 and there is calling between them. The female then slowly walks into the box and there are a few moments of posturing before the male flies out. She returns to the ledge and flies out at 4:55. The male flies in at 5:10 and sits on the ledge for 15 minutes, then flies off. He is back at 6:35 but leaves 5 minutes later. A Stock Dove makes a brief visit at 6:45. The male is back at 7:00 and goes into the box and makes a scrape in the same area as the female the previous day. He flies out 10 minutes later, returning at 7:25 for 5 minutes. He is back again briefly at 7:35 with a quick visit to the box. There is another brief landing at 8:00 and he returns at 9:05 remaining on the ledge for 10 minutes. A Woodpigeon lands at 9:50 but only stays for a few minutes. At 10:45, the male flies in with Starling prey and is quickly followed by the female who relieves him of his offering. This is the first prey item that has been brought into the box and could well signal courtship feeding and the start of a breeding attempt. He flies off and she follows with her meal a few minutes later. The pair fly in together at 12:50 and the female goes into the box. The male soon follows and there is calling and posturing, the longest session of late. He walks closer and their heads almost touch, there is an egg between them. After a few moments he runs back to the platform, calling quietly. He flies off at 12:55 but she remains in the box until 14:30 occasionally moving stones and making scrapes in between preening and dozing. She flies off at 14:35. The male lands briefly at 16:00 and is back again at 17:25 when he goes into the box for a few minutes before returning to the ledge. He makes four short flights between 17:35 and 17:40 and leaves 5 minutes later. The female flies in at 20:15 and goes into the box for a few moments then settles on the ledge. At 22:00, she walks into the box, looks around for a few moments then returns to the ledge and falls asleep.
6 May – the female remains on the ledge until 2:00 when she flies off. The male flies in at 3:20 and falls asleep. He takes three short flights between 4:50 and 4:55 before flying off. The female returns at 5:15 but leaves a few moments later and is replaced by the male who goes into the box, then moves to the ledge. He flies out at 5:40, returning briefly 15 minutes later. The male flies into the box at 7:10 and is quickly followed by the female. There is calling and posturing between the pair but the male leaves after a few moments. The female goes into the box and makes a scrape before moving to the ledge and flying off at 7:20. The male is back at 8:30 and makes a number of scrapes on the platform. He makes 3 short flights at 10:50 the flies off at 11:00 returning 10 minutes later. He takes another flight at 10:20 and is back after 10 minutes. He goes into the box at 11:35 when the female arrives. There is calling and posturing and the male goes onto the platform at 11:45 whilst the female remains in the box. She sits in what appears to be her favourite scrape site, close to that of the OLDF. The male flies off at 12:10 and she sits on the ledge 5 minutes later. The male returns at 12:45 and goes into the box and sits in the same scrape as the female. He appeared to deliberately move the outlying egg, kicking it twice before flying out at 12:55. The female watches him go, then walks into the box at 13:15 and sits in her scrape, and moves stones around. She is back on the ledge at 13:25 and is joined by the male. There is calling and posturing before they both fly off. He is back at 14:10 but leaves after 5 minutes. He is back briefly at 14:35 again at 15:15, 16:00, 17:25 and 18:05. He flies in at 18:35 and goes into the box initially but leaves soon after. He returns at 20:50 and sits on the ledge before flying off at 21:20.
7 May – the male flies in at 1:45 calling and leaves 15 minutes later. He is back briefly at 2:30. He returns with a full crop at 4:45 and sits on the ledge until 5:55 when he goes onto the platform before moving to the box, make a scrape then returns to the ledge remaining until 6:30 when he makes two short flights then enters the box. He reinforces the females favourite scrape and returns to the ledge, flying off briefly at 6:40. He makes another short flight at 7:25 returning to make further scrapes, this time on the platform. He moves back to the ledge after 30 minutes and has another short flight at 8:20 and again at 8:45 and 8:55, each time returning to make scrapes in various locations. He remains on the platform until 10:35 when he moves back to the ledge to take another brief flight at 10:40. When he returns, he goes into the box and cover the 2 eggs for a few moments before walking around making more scrapes. He goes into the box at 11:00 when the female arrives. She joins him and there is calling and posturing. He flies off 5 minutes later and she walks around the box make scrapes and moving stones. She moves to the ledge at 11:35 and is joined by the male at 12:55. She follows him 10 minutes later making scrapes as she goes. There are a few moments of calling and posturing before the male runs to the ledge and flying off at 13:15. She remains in the box and for the first for a number of days, tries to cover the two outlying eggs. She pulls them towards her for a few moments before flying out at 13:25. The male is back at 14:05 but leaves 5 minutes later and lands briefly at 14:55 and 15:00. He flies in at 15:40 and makes scrapes in the platform before moving to the ledge 10 minutes later. He walks into the box at 16:20 and the female lands 5 minutes later but leaves after a few moments and is followed by the male. He is back for 5 minutes at 17:40 and make another brief appearance at 18:30. He flies in at 19:05 and goes into the box before settling on the ledge, flying off at 19:30. He returns at 20:10 and again visits the box before settling on the ledge where he remains dozing until 23:35 when the female arrives. He goes into the box and there is calling between the pair. She then moves to the ledge whilst he remains in the box. He flies out at midnight.
8 May – the male flies out at midnight leaving the female on the ledge. She falls asleep but is awake quickly at 00:40 and flies off. The male is back on the ledge at 1:40 and falls asleep. He is watching the skies at 4:30 and takes a short flight 5 minutes later. He takes other short flights at 4:50, 5:05, 5:10 and 5:20 before flying off at 5:30 – no doubt looking for his morning meal. He is back at 5:50 but is off again soon after, returning at 6:15 and goes into the box, leaving after a few minutes. He is back briefly at 7:10. He flies in at 8:05 looking well fed and falls asleep on the ledge. At 9:35 he moves to the platform and makes a couple of scrapes, then returns to the ledge. At 9:50, he goes into the box on the arrival of the female and stands in her ‘favourite’ scrape. There is calling between the pair as she moves slowly into the box. He moves closer to her and there is posturing and calling. He then moves back to the scrape where he walks around in circles four times before moving to the platform and then flying off. She walks to her scrape and moves some stones around and sits in it for a few minutes The male is back for a few minutes at 10:35 and she moves to the platform where she lies in a scrape and moves some stones. After a few moments, she is back in the box on her favoured site. She flies out at 11:10 and the male replaces her then flies off after 10 minutes. At 11:25, a Woodpigeon lands on the ledge and walks up and down before entering the box, then exploring for the next 10 minutes. It settles in the corner next to the outlying egg and starts calling. It continued to explore until 11:50 when it just managed to escape the clutches of the incoming male. He is back a few moments later and settles on the ledge. He is off again at 12:20 and back 20 minutes later. At 13:30, he flies out and returns a few moments later with the female. He goes into the box but flies out after a few minutes. She remains on the platform and is joined by a Woodpigeon on the ledge. She ignores the pigeon and walks into the box and sits in her scrape preening. The Woodpigeon flies off after 10 minutes, but the female remains in the scrape moving stones. She walks to the platform at 14:05 and sits on the ledge 10 minutes later. The male returns at 14:26 and there is calling and posturing on the platform before he moves into the box where he sits in the scrape. He flies out at 14:40 and is followed by the female. He returns at 15:15 but flies out 5 minutes later and makes a brief landing at 15:45. He is back again at 16:00 and stands on the platform calling and looking into the sky and flying out after a few moments, returning briefly at 17:25. The female flies in at 18:00 and is joined by the male 20 minutes later who goes into the box. He sits in her scrape and there is calling and posturing. After 5 minutes, she moves back to the ledge and he flies out at 18:50. She remains on the ledge preening until 20:25 when the male flies in and goes into the box. She joins him and there is calling and posturing. He stands in her scrape and turns around and moves some stones. She walks up to him after 5 minutes and there is further calling and posturing until he flies out a few minutes later. She tidies her scrape and moves stones around before walking top the platform and flying off a few minutes later. Neither bird returns to the platform before midnight.
9 May – the male flies in at 1:50 and sits on the ledge, flying off 15 minutes later but returns after a few moments. He leaves at 5:00, returning briefly 15 minutes later. A Woodpigeon lands at 6:10 and has a 5 minute walk around the box and platform before leaving. The male is back briefly at 6:45. At 8:20, the Woodpigeon is back and goes into the box. Five minutes later, the male arrives and the Woodpigeon manages to make its exit via the other side of the central column. The male does not give chase, he looks too well fed, but calls out. He then goes into the box and makes some scrapes, then moves to the ledge. At 8:40, two Stock Doves try to land but do a quick u-turn. He remains on the ledge until 11:35 when he is replaced by a Woodpigeon that goes into the back of the box and sits there, cooing softly. The male flies in at 11:45 and once again, the Woodpigeon makes its escape via the opposite side of the column. Again, the male does not give chase but flies off at noon. The Woodpigeon lands at 12:15 and goes into the box until the male arrives 5 minutes later and he makes a dash for it. The male watches it go. He takes short flights at 12:25 and 12:35 before leaving at 13:15 to be replaced by the Woodpigeon again. It is joined by a second 10 minutes later and both are cooing in the corner of the box. One moves back to the platform and walks around for a few minutes before flying off. It is back soon after and both pigeons do laps around the box but leave just before the male returns at 13:45. He goes into the box at 14:05 and covers two of the eggs for 5 minutes then moves to the ledge, flying off at 14:20. A Woodpigeon is back at 14:35 and is joined by a second 10 minutes later. They fly out in a rush when the male lands at 14:50. This time he does give chase but they escape as they both return to the box at 15:10 but fly off as the male arrives 5 minutes later. He flies off at 15:25, returning 20 minutes later and is off again at 15:55. The pair fly in together at 16:05 and the male goes into the box and is soon joined by the well-fed female. There is calling and posturing for 5 minutes until the male flies out. The female remains in the box preening, then scraping and moving stones before returning to the ledge at 16:35. A Woodpigeon lands on the opposite side and looks at her, she looks back and it stays for a few minutes before flying off; she just watches it go. The male is back again at 17:45 and goes into the box. She remains on the ledge dozing. At 18:25, she walks onto the platform and makes a scrape; the male watches from the box. She flies off a few minutes later and he follows. At 20:05, the male is followed onto the platform by the female. He is carrying Starling prey. The female tries to take it from him, but he flies off with it. She goes into the box and preens, makes scrapes and moves stones. She is back on the ledge at 20:40 where she preens until falling asleep at 22:20.
10 May – the male flies into the box at 4:35 and is joined by the female. There is calling and posturing until she flies out 10 minutes later and the male walks to the ledge looking out. He follows after a few minutes. they return together at 5:55 and go into the box, calling and posturing. The female flies out a few minutes later and the male follows. He returns at 7:15 but leaves 10 minutes later. He is back at 8:35, calling loudly from the platform, leaving after 5 minutes. The male flies in again at 10:20 and calls from the platform, flying off 5 minutes later. The female flies in briefly at 10:55 and the pair land briefly at 14:05. The female is back, well fed, at 17:55 and goes into the box. She flies out in strong wind at 18:15. Neither bird returns before midnight.
11 May – the female flies in at 4:45 and goes into the box, moving to the ledge 5 minutes later before flying off. The pair fly in together at 5:40 and the male goes into the box. They leave together 5 minutes later. The male is back briefly at 6:10. A pair of Woodpigeon fly in at 6:30. One goes into the box whilst the other makes circuits of the platform, occasionally returning to the box and cooing up to its mate. They make their escape when the male arrives 10 minutes later. He flies off at 6:45. He is back at 7:05 for 10 minutes and is back briefly at 7:20, 7:30, 7:55 and 9:00. At 9:05 a Woodpigeon arrives and goes into the box, flying out a few minutes later. The pair are back at 11:45 and the male goes into the box. The well-fed female follows him soon after and there is calling and posturing. The male flies off after 5 minutes. The female stays in the box until 12:35 when she moves to the platform, flying off at 12:50. The male lands briefly calling at 13:15 and 13:35. The pair are back at 14:50 and go into the box where there is more calling and posturing. The male flies off after 5 minutes but the female remains in the box, sheltering from the cold, strong north-easterly winds, behind a column. She flies out at 17:10, returning at 19:20 and leaving 20 minutes later. She is back at 20:00 for 15 minutes but neither bird returns before midnight.
12 May – the male flies in at 4:30 and goes into the box when the female arrives 5 minutes later. There is 10 minutes of calling between the pair before the female walks into the box beside the male and there is calling and posturing for a few minutes more before the male flies out. The female moves to the ledge and preens until 5:25 when she flies off and is replaced by the male. He takes a short flight at 6:20 and again 10 minutes later, at 6:45 and 7:10. He is off again a few moments later returning at 7:40. He goes into the box at 8:10 and takes another short flight at 8:15, then flying off at 8:30. A Woodpigeon arrives at 8:50 and after a couple of laps around the centre column, settles down in a corner of the box. It is joined by a second bird at 9:00 but both leave 5 minutes later. One returns at 9:10 and starts cooing using the gap between the columns as an amplifier. It then walks around the box before flying off at 9:20. It is back after a few minutes but makes a hasty retreat as the male flies in. In its urgency to escape, the Woodpigeon almost bumps into its mate that was trying to land! The male gives chase but returns a few moments later. He is soon joined by the female who walks into the box where there is posturing and calling. Whilst this is happening, one of the Woodpigeons lands on the ledge but leaves quickly. The male then goes to the platform where he makes a scrape before he flies off at 9:35. The female remains in the box and shelters from the wind by a column, occasionally sitting in the scrape and moving stones. She walks to the ledge at 10:35 and flies off 10 minutes later. The male returns, well fed, at 10:55 and goes into the box calling. He moves quickly to the ledge and flies off. He is back at 11:15 and sits on the ledge until 12:35 when he takes a short flight returning to the box and then the ledge. He goes into the box when the female arrives at 12:40. She goes into the box with him 10 minutes later and there is calling and posturing at very close quarters. He moves back to the ledge and watches her in the box for a few minutes before flying off. She remains in the box and is visited briefly by a Woodpigeon at 13:45. She is joined in the box by the male at 14:20 but she immediately moves to the ledge. He remains in the box until 15:55 when the female flies off and he follows. He returns at 16:55 and takes a short flight after 20 minutes before leaving at 18:00. He is back at 18:20 carrying a large Feral Pigeon prey. The female follows him, and he allows her to take the meal from him and she flies off with it. He sits on the ledge until 19:50 when he takes two short flights. He remains on the ledge until 23:05 when he flies off, returning at 23:35 but leaving again 5 minutes later.
13 May – the pair fly in together at 00:15; the male goes into the box and the female on the ledge. He flies out at 00:35 and returns at 1:20 but leaves 5 minutes later. The female goes into the box at 1:50 and falls asleep. She walks to the ledge at 4:05 and the male arrives 5 minutes later. She flies off and he watches her go. He takes a quick flight at 5:05 and leaves 10 minutes later. The female flies in at 5:20 and is followed immediately by the male. They go into the box and there is calling and posturing for 5 minutes before the male flies out. She follows 10 minutes later. He is back at 5:55, flying off after 10 minutes. He makes a brief visit at 6:35. At 7:15, a pair of Woodpigeon land and go into the box. They settle into the scrape and start cooing and necking. The male interrupts them 5 minutes later and they manage to escape. He flies off a few minutes later returning at 8:10. He is off again after 5 minutes and makes brief visits at 8:25, 9:55, 12:40 and 12:50. The female returns at 12:55 and goes into the scrape. The male flies into the box at 13:35 but flies out almost immediately and she follows. They return together at 14:05 and go into the box where there is calling and posturing. The male flies off after 10 minutes, the female remaining in the scrape until 15:35 when she flies out. The male pays a quick visit at 17:00, 17:25, 19:00, 19:10, 19:20 and 19:35. After which, neither bird returns before midnight.
14 May – the pair fly in together at 4:15; the male goes into the box and the female onto the ledge, but she leaves just a few minutes later. He watches her go and flies out at 4:25. He is back 20 minutes later but flies off at 4:55. He is back at 6:15 sporting a full crop and sits on the ledge for 20 minutes, then flies off. He returns at 7:20 and settles on the ledge. He takes a short flight at 8:35 and goes into the box at 8:50 on the arrival of the female. There is posturing and calling for 5 minutes then the male flies out. The female remains and works on her scrape and moves stones around. A Woodpigeon lands at 9:05 but wisely leaves quickly. She spends two hours in the box before moving to the ledge at 10:50. The male returns a few moments later and the pair go back into the box for a few minutes more calling and posturing; the male leaving soon after. The female remains in the scrape for another hour, preening and moving stones. The male is back in the box at 12:45 but leaves after a few minutes. The female walks to the ledge to watch him go. She flies off at 13:55. The male lands briefly at 14:10 and the pair fly in together at 15:55. The male goes into the box, the female on the ledge. She joins him at 16:20 for calling and posturing and he flies off after a few minutes. A Stock Dove lands briefly at 16:35 but the female remains in the box until 17:00 when she moves to the platform and then the ledge at 17:35 and flying off at 18:00. The male is back at 18:15 and takes a short flight a few minutes later the flies off after a further 5 minutes. He is back briefly at 18:55 and returns at 19:00 sitting on the ledge until 19:40. He is back at 20:15 and falls asleep on the ledge at 22:40 and remains until at least midnight.
15 May – the male remains on the ledge until 4:20 when he takes a short flight and again 20 minutes later. He goes into the box when the female arrives at 4:50. She joins him at 5:00 and there is calling and close-quarter posturing. He flies out 10 minutes later and she remains in the scrape preening for a further 5 minutes before moving to the platform and flying out. He flies straight back in and sits on the ledge until 6:10 when he takes a brief flight, making scrapes in the platform on his return, then moves to the ledge. He flies off at 6:55 and is back briefly at 7:05 and 7:10. He is on the ledge again at 7:35 and has another short flight 20 minutes later, going into the box on his return before moving to the ledge. He is back in the box at 8:35 and a Woodpigeon attempts to land. He runs to the ledge to watch it go but does not give chase. He takes another short flight at 9:25 and again soon after, then flies off at 9:35. He is back at 9:55 and is joined the female who is well fed. They are both in the box calling and posturing 10 minutes later. The male appears to be taking the dominant position and returns to the scrape doing a 360 on a number of occasions. He flies out at 10:15 and the female remains in the scrape preening and moving stones. She returns to the ledge at 10:55. The male is back at 11:05 and goes into the box where he remains until flying out at 12:10. The female remains on the ledge and the male is back at 12:55 and goes into the box. The pair fly off together at 13:05. The male is back briefly 20 minutes later and after 3 short flights leaves at 13:30. He is back at 14:10 and the female flies in at 14:35 and he goes into the box where he sits in the scrape moving stones. He flies out at 15:05 and the female remains on the ledge until 15:45 when she enters the box, sits in the scrape and moves stones around. She is back on the ledge at 16:10, flying off at 17:40. The male is back briefly at 18:00 and is on the ledge at 18:10 leaving 25 minutes later. He returns at 18:45 remaining until 23:35 when he flies off.
16 May – the female arrives at 2:55 and falls asleep on the ledge until 4:35 when the male flies into the box. She quickly follows and there is calling and posturing. After 5 minutes, the female does a circuit of the column and returns to the box where there is more calling and posturing. The male flies out a few minutes later and the female returns to the ledge. She flies out at 5:00 and is replaced by the male but he leaves in a hurry a few moments later. He is back after 5 minutes, takes a short flight at 5:20 and makes scrapes in the platform before moving back to the ledge. He takes another short flight at 6:05 and walks into the box, returning to the ledge 10 minutes later. He flies off at 6:35 returning at 7:00 to sit on the ledge. He goes into the box when the female flies in at 7:30. There is posturing and calling whilst the male sits in the scrape. He flies out at 7:40 and the female moves to the platform and makes a couple of scrapes before going into the box and spending time in her main scrape. She is back on the ledge at 8:00 moving back to the scrape after 45 minutes and the male flies in 10 minutes later. There is calling and close-quarter posturing. A Feral Pigeon walks along the ledge whilst this is going on, but it soon leaves. The male flies off at 9:05 and the female walks back to the ledge. She is back in the scrape at 9:30 and on the ledge 10 minutes later. The male flies into the box at 9:55 but the female remains on the ledge. He flies off at 10:05 returning to the box at 11:00, but still the female remains on the ledge. She flies off at 11:15 and he follows. He returns briefly 5 minutes later and the pair fly in together at 11:45; the male to the box, the female on the ledge. They leave together at 12:05. The male is back an hour later for 5 minutes and is again at 13:40 remaining for 15 minutes. He flies in at 14:00 with the remnants of an old well-eaten Feral Pigeon and is quickly followed by the female. He takes it into the box and is followed by the female. He then moves to the platform whilst she sits in the scrape. He eats a little of the prey then leaves it on the platform. The female picks it up and flies off with it whilst the male takes over in the scrape. She is back a few moments later and sits on the ledge – obviously not enough to eat on the pigeon. The male flies out at 14:10 and she follows. He is back briefly at 14:25, for 5 minutes at 14:40 and makes another short visit at 15:15. The pair return an hour later, and the male goes into the box with the female on the ledge. He flies out at 16:25 and the female goes into the box 10 minutes later, and is back on the ledge at 16:45. The male is back in the box briefly at 16:50 and the female follows him out. He is back for a few moments at 17:10 and again at 18:00. He returns to the ledge 20 minutes later and takes a short flight at 19:15. He flies off at 19:50 and the female returns to the box 5 minutes later. He is back after a few minutes carrying fresh Water Rail prey. The female is close behind, but he flies off with his meal and she goes into the box. He returns at 20:15, looking well fed, with the remnants of his meal and leaves them for the female to fly off with. He sits on the ledge and falls asleep remaining until midnight at least.
17 May – the male remains on the ledge asleep until 00:30 when he goes into the box on the arrival of the female. She flies off 10 minutes later and he follows. He is back 5 minutes later and settles back on the ledge and falls asleep. He takes a short flight at 5:00 and again 5 minutes later. The female flies in at 5:20 and the pair go into the box where there is calling and posturing. The male flies out 15 minutes later and the female moves to the ledge. She takes a short flight at 6:00, then leaves at 6:05. The male is back at 6:40 and sits on the ledge taking a brief flight at 8:15, again 5 minutes later, then at 10:00, 10:05, 10:45, 10:55, 11:10 and 11:15. The well-fed female lands at 11:25 and the pair go into the box where there is more calling and posturing for another 15 minutes before the male flies out. The female sits in the scrape preening and moving stones around. She is back on the ledge at 12:20 and falls asleep. The male flies in with a Great Spotted Woodpecker prey at 13:25. He shows it to the female but flies off with it; she goes into the scrape and moves the stones some more, returning to the ledge at 13:50. The well-fed male flies in with the scraps of the woodpecker which he offers to the female. She ignores them and he flies off; she returns to the ledge. At 14:35, she walks onto the platform calling, looking up at the sky before walking back to the ledge. The male flies into the box at 14:50 but the female remains on the ledge. They fly off together at 15:05. The male is back briefly at 15:45 and 16:50. He is back on the ledge at 17:20 and takes a short flight at 18:25 and 18:40. At 19:00, he is off again but returns a few moments later with the female in tow. He goes into the box and she follows but moves to the ledge a few minutes later. The male flies out of the box at 19:15. She goes in calling at 19:55 and spends 10 minutes in the scrape and moving stones before returning to the ledge. The male flies into the box at 21:20 but the female stays on the ledge preening. He flies out after 10 minutes and she falls asleep remaining until midnight at least.
18 May – the female remains on the ledge and takes a short flight at 00:50 and again 5 minutes later. She flies off at 1:45 and the male flies in 2 hours later. He sits on the ledge until 4:40 when he goes into the box on the arrival of the female. He flies out 10 minutes later and she remains until 5:25 when she flies off to be replaced by the male. He leaves 5 minutes later and the female flies in briefly. The male is back at 6:00, taking a short flight after 15 minutes and moves into the box at 6:25 for a few minutes. He is off at 6:40 for 5 minutes, returning to the platform to make some scrapes. He takes other brief flights at 6:50 and 7:10 before leaving at 7:25. He is back at 8:50 but is off again at 9:00. At 10:25, both birds fly in looking well fed. The male goes into the box and the female joins him a few minutes later. There is close quarter posturing and calling. The male cornering the female and being very brave. He then goes into the scrape and moves a few stones around, all the time calling. He leaves 5 minutes later and flies out. The female goes into the scrape and moves stones around before settling to preen herself. She remains in the box until 11:05 when she moves to the ledge. The male is back in the box at 11:55 but the female remains on the ledge and falls asleep. The male flies out at 12:15 but the female continues to sleep on the ledge until 15:10 when she walks into the box. The male is back at 15:20, flying off 5 minutes later. The female continues to move stones around her scrape and returns to the ledge at 15:30 until 17:40 when she flies off. The male makes a brief appearance a few minutes later. He returns at 17:50 and goes into the box at 18:45 when the female flies in. He stands in the scrape calling to the female on the ledge. She joins him at 19:15 and there is close-quarter posturing and calling. He flies off after 10 minutes whilst she remains in the scrape preening, moving to the ledge at 19:45. The male flies into the box an hour later but she remains on the ledge, so he leaves at 21:00. She remains on the ledge dozing and preening until flying off briefly at 22:50. She flies off again at 23:55 but returns a few moments later with the male who goes into the box for a few moments before flying out.
19 May – she remains on the ledge preening and dozing until 00:30 when she flies off to be replaced by the male. He flies out soon after and she returns at 00:50. The male flies into the box at 3:35 and falls asleep. The female flies off at 4:30 and he runs to the platform and watches her go before settling on the ledge preening. At 5:15, he takes a quick flight before flying off at 5:20, returning briefly at 5:50. The female flies into the box at 5:55 but flies out 15 minutes later. The male is back briefly at 6:35. He returns at 6:55 with a freshly caught Feral Pigeon which he proceeds to pluck on the platform. He flies off without eating it at 6:30; presumably a gift for the female. He returns with the prey a few minutes later with the female in tow. However, she appears to have already eaten as her crop is full. Nonetheless, he allows her to take the meal and he flies off; she leaves with the meal. He is back at 7:45 and sits on the ledge preening. He takes a couple of short flights at 9:25, returning 10 minutes later. He is off again at 9:45 and is back after 10 minutes. He flies out at 10:05, returning after 15 minutes. He goes into the box at 10:40 and is soon joined by the female. There is calling and close-quarter posturing. The male flies out after 10 minutes and the female remains in the scrape preening and tending the scrape until 11:25 when she moves to the ledge. At 11:35, the male flies in with the plucked remains of the pigeon. He shows it to the female and then flies off; she returns to the ledge but leaves 10 minutes later. The male is back at 11:50 and the female joins 5 minutes later. He flies out at 12:25 whilst she remains on the ledge sleeping. She goes into the box at 13:45 and sits in the scrape. The male lands on the platform at 14:05 and takes over in the box after 10 minutes whilst she moves back to the ledge. They fly out together at 14:20. The male lands briefly at 15:45 and returns at 16:05 leaving at 16:20. He is back with half-plucked prey at 17:05 and proceeds to eat it on the platform, then settles on the ledge preening until going into the box at 18:35 and calling before flying off. He is back 5 minutes later and takes another short flight at 18:50 before flying off at 19:15. He is back at 20:05 and sits on the ledge, falling asleep until midnight at least.
20 May – the male flies off at 00:05 but returns 10 minutes later. He takes a short flight at 1:25 then leaves at 1:40. He is back at 4:30 and goes into the box when the female arrives at 4:50. She joins him 5 minutes later and there is close-quarter posturing and calling. For the first time I noticed that they were purposely touching beaks – a step up in the courtship of this new pairing. He flies out after 15 minutes and she moves to the ledge before leaving at 5:30. The male flies into the scrape at 5:45 and moves to the ledge after a few minutes, flying off at 6:00. He returns to the box 20 minutes later, then moves to the ledge. He flies off when the female arrives at 6:35 and goes into the scrape. She walks to the ledge and flies off at 6:45. The male is back briefly at 7:40 and at 8:30 he returns with a full crop and goes into the box, moving to the ledge after 15 minutes. He flies off at 9:15, returning briefly at 10:25. He lands a few minutes later and sits on the platform with his wings outstretched ‘sunning/cooling’ himself. He flies off at 10:35 and is back at 11:10 for 10 minutes. A pigeon lands for a few moments at 11:30. The male is back on the platform at 11:40, then moves to the ledge with wings spread. He runs into the box when the female flies in at 12:00 and she immediately joins him and there is calling and posturing for 10 minutes. She walks back to the ledge and preens whilst the male remains in the box. The male flies out at 12:20 and she watches him go. They are back in the box together at 13:15 with another 5 minutes of bonding. She preens on the ledge whilst he remains in the scrape. He has a close look at the two central eggs then moves to the outlying egg before returning to the central eggs. He separates the two eggs slightly, walks away but returns to them soon after before flying off with the female at 13:55. He is back briefly an hour later, and on the ledge again at 16:25. The female returns at 17:00 and he goes into the box where she joins him 10 minutes later and there is more close-quarter posturing and beak tapping. He flies out at 17:15 and she sits in the scrape preening. She walks to the ledge 5 minutes later and continues preening and is back in the scrape at 18:10 returning to the ledge after 15 minutes. The male is back in the box 20 minutes later, flying off at 18:55. The female leaves at 19:25 and is replaced by the male. He flies off at 21:15 returning at 23:30 with a small item of prey which is plucked and eaten on the platform. The female flies in and he goes into the box. She flies off at 23:40 and he follows a few moments later.
21 May – the female flies in at 00:15 and settles on the ledge, flying off an hour later. The male flies in with prey at 1:40 and is immediately followed by the female. He flies off with it and she sits on the ledge and falls asleep. The male is back at 3:40 and goes into the box. At 4:15, he checks out the two central eggs before returning to the scrape. The female walks into the box at 4:30, swallowing stones on the way, then returns to the ledge. The male flies out at 4:40 followed by the female. He is back a few minutes later and sits on the ledge until 5:40 when he takes a short flight. He takes another short flight at 6:05 and goes into the box on his return, then moves to the ledge. There are further brief flights at 6:30, 7:30, 7:55, 8:00 and 8:05. He leaves for 10 minutes at 8:10 and is then back on the ledge. He is off at 9:15 and arrives back a few minutes later with the female who has a full crop. The pair go into the box and there is calling and close-quarter posturing with lots of beak contact. He flies out at 9:30 and the female stays in the box moving stones about and preening. At 10:15, the female goes to the two eggs and sits on them as if incubating! She remains on them for 10 minutes then sits in the scrape and moves stones around. At 10:45, the male arrives with Feral Pigeon prey which he plucks on the ledge; the female watches from the scrape. She walks to the ledge at 10:50 and he flies off. She moves to a shady area and falls asleep. The male flies into the box at 11:40, sits in the scrape moving stones and then moves one of the outlying eggs. He walks to the two central eggs and moves them with his beak into his chest, then moves back into the scrape. He flies out at 12:10 and the female remains on the ledge. He is back in the box at 12:50 and after spending time in the scrape, moves one of the outlying eggs. He flies out at 13:45 and returns for a few moments at 14:40; the female remains on the ledge. At 15:55, she walks into the box and stands over the two eggs and pulls them towards her slightly. She then walks around the box before returning to the ledge at 16:10. The male flies in at 16:55 and the pair go into the box. After a few moments, the female returns to the ledge and he moves stones in the box then flies off at 17:15. The female walks into the box at 17:45 and moves stones around the scrape. She then walks to an outlying egg and brings it under her chin. A few minutes later, she walks to the two central eggs and brings them under her chin and ‘incubates’ them for a few minutes. She returns to the ledge at 18:00 and flies off 25 minutes later. She is replaced immediately by the male who arrives with Woodpigeon prey that he plucks on the platform but does not eat. He flies off with the plucked meal at 19:05 and returns briefly with it 5 minutes later. He is back on the ledge without the prey at 19:20. He remains until 23:30 when he flies off and returns a few moments later with the female. He goes into the box and she falls asleep on the ledge.
22 May – the male flies out of the box at 00:45 whilst the female sleeps on the ledge. He is back in the box at 3:30 and goes to the central eggs and brings them to his chest then moves to the scrape. An hour later he walks to an outlying egg and moves it, then returns to the scrape. The female joins him in the box at 4:35. After a few minutes of posturing, the male flies out and the female sits in the scrape before returning to the ledge. The male returns at 5:00 and the female flies off a few minutes later; he watches her go. At 5:45, he is back in the box and starts moving the central eggs then returns to the ledge. He makes a short flight at 6:20, 6:25, 6:55, 7:00, and at 7:05 returns with an already plucked prey item which he eats on the platform. He sits on the ledge with a full crop 15 minutes later. He runs into the box at 7:35 when the female arrives; she is also well fed with a full crop. She sits on the ledge whilst the male is in the box moving stones and also the two central eggs. At 7:55, he drags one of the eggs towards the scrape, then flies out 5 minutes later. The female goes into the scrape, which now holds one of the eggs, and covers it for a few minutes before walking around the box moving stones and returning to the ledge at 8:20. Both birds are in the box at 8:55 and there is calling and posturing. The male flies out 10 minutes later and the female moves to the ledge after a further 5 minutes, flying off soon after. The pair are back at 9:30 with the male in the box where he starts to doze. At 10:20 he moves an outlying egg. A few minutes later, the female suddenly flies off and the male follows. She returns at 10:30 and he is back briefly at 11:20 and the female goes into the box at 12:00. She walks around moving stones, scraping and preening, and is back on the ledge after 15 minutes. The male returns to the box at 12:50 and flies out at 13:20. The female follows 10 minutes later. He is back briefly at 13:40 and the pair return at 14:45 and he flies off at 15:05. He is back at 15:25 and they go into the box; the female returns to the ledge after 10 minutes and the male falls asleep. At 16:00, he pushes one of the eggs around and during the next 90 minutes checks all the eggs. The female flies off at 17:35 and he follows but returns soon after. He flies off again at 17:45. He is back at 18:00 and the female returns 20 minutes later and sits on the ledge whilst he is in the box. She joins him at 19:30 and there is calling and posturing for 5 minutes before she goes back to the ledge. At 20:40 she makes a few scrapes on the platform before returning to the ledge and he flies off at 20:50. She follows at 21:05 and he returns 5 minutes later and falls asleep at 22:15. He flies off at 23:30 and does not return before midnight.
23 May – the pair fly in at 00:25; the male goes into the box and she falls asleep on the ledge. The male flies out at 1:50, returning at 4:25. She flies off at 4:50 and he runs to the platform, looks around then returns to the box. A few minutes later he sits on the ledge. He takes a short flight at 5:25 and goes into the box when the female flies in at 5:40. She joins him in the box and there is calling and posturing. She is back on the ledge after 10 minutes whilst the male remains in the box. She flies off at 6:00 and he follows. He is back 20 minutes later and picks at some scraps left on the platform. He takes a short flight at 6:45 and again at 7:00. He is off again at 7:20 for 10 minutes, returning to the ledge until 8:15 when he goes into the box on the arrival of the well-fed female. He moves stones and one of the eggs before flying out at 8:25. The female goes into the box at 8:55 moving stones and preening until going onto the platform at 9:25 and back on the ledge at 10:05 when the male flies in. He leaves at 10:50 with the female sleeping on the ledge. He is back in the box at 12:05 but flies out 15 minutes later. The female flies off at 12:35. The male returns at 12:45 and the female 10 minutes later. He goes into the box and is joined by the female at 14:20. There is calling and 10 minutes of close-quarter posturing until the male flies off. The female sits in the scrape preening. The male is back at 14:55 for 10 minutes whilst the female remains in the box. She moves to the ledge at 15:10 and flies off 25 minutes later. A Stock Dove walks across the platform at 15:40. It is back in the box at 16:00 and sits in one of the smaller scrapes. It makes a dramatic exit at 16:20 when the male flies in and he makes an attempt to catch the Stock Dove but fails. He sits on the ledge until 17:55 when he flies off. He is back 20 minutes later and goes into the box at 19:10 when the female flies in. He falls asleep in the box whilst the female sleeps on the ledge. The male flies out at 21:15 and the female takes his place in the box. The male is soon back and picks at scraps on the platform before leaving again. She moves back to the ledge at 21:30 and falls asleep.
28 May – the female arrives at 00:25 and the male flies into the box 10 minutes later but leaves after just a few moments. She falls asleep on the ledge until flying off at 1:55 to be replaced by the male. He takes a short flight at 4:20 and goes into the box a few minutes later on the arrival of the female; he flies off at 4:35. After a quick visit to the scrape, she sits on the ledge until 5:05 when she makes another visit to the scrape and moves some stones around, returning to the ledge after 5 minutes. She then walks around the platform making scrapes in the stones before flying off at 5:25. The male is back a few minutes later and goes into the box before sitting on the ledge. He takes a brief flight at 6:05 and again 10 minutes later. He is off again at 6:40 returning to the box 5 minutes later before walking back to the ledge. He flies off at 7:25 but returns with the female a few minutes later. She flies off at 7:40 and is followed quickly by the male. He returns briefly at 10:20 and again at 11:10 and 11:25. A few minutes later, a Woodpigeon flies into the box and is soon joined by its mate. Both manage to escape the male who flies in after a few minutes. He stands on the platform calling before moving to the ledge at 12:25. He walks into the box when the female flies in at 12:40 and joins him. There is calling and close-quarter posturing for 10 minutes after which he flies out and she settles on the ledge, leaving at 13:05. The female is back half an hour later and stands on the platform until the male flies into the box at 14:30. She remains on the platform and he flies out 10 minutes later. He is back in the box at 15:05 but she ignores him and walks around the platform for 10 minutes then settles on the ledge; he flies out at 15:25. She leaves at 17:15 and the male flies in briefly at 18:00. He pays brief visits at 19:00 and 19:10. At 19:30 he sits on the ledge for 15 minutes, retuning for a few moments 10 minutes later. He is back again at 20:35 and preens on the ledge until falling asleep at 22:15. He flies off at 22:25 and returns a few minutes later with the female. He goes into the box and she falls asleep on the platform then moves to the ledge. At 23:20, the male moves the front egg slightly; he flies out a few moments later but the female remains until midnight at least.
29 May – the female is on the ledge until 1:05 when she flies off. The male flies in 15 minutes later but flies off after 10 minutes. He is back at 4:30 flying off at 5:10 to return with the female; he goes into the box. She flies out a few minutes later and he runs to the platform, looks out, then flies off. The male is back in the box at 5:30 and on the ledge a few minutes later, taking a short flight at 5:50. He leaves again at 6:00 returning with a full crop at 7:55. He moves to the platform looking out at 10:20 and is back on the ledge at 11:30. He takes a short flight 10 minutes later then flies off at 11:50. The female flies in at 12:00 and goes into the box 20 minutes later. She sits in the scrape then stands preening. She walks around the box for a few minutes then moves back to the ledge at 12:35. The male flies into the box at 13:10. The pair leave together half an hour later, the male returning at 13:50. He goes into the box when the female flies in at 14:05. He moves two of the eggs slightly before flying out at 14:30. The female walks into the box at 15:05 and moves one of the eggs and lies down beside it. At 15:15, she drags the front-most egg towards the centre and places it next to a second egg. She moves back to the ledge at 15:25. The male flies into the box at 16:35 and is followed by the female. After a few minutes of calling she returns to the ledge. The male flies out at 16:55 and the female follows. He is back at 18:40 and flies off after 5 minutes. He lands briefly at 20:05 and returns an hour later and sits on the ledge preening until 21:45 when he flies off.
30 May – the pair fly in together at 4:10 and go into the box. The male flies out after 10 minutes and the female walks to the ledge but leaves at 4:40. The pair are back in the box again 10 minutes later for more calling and posturing; the male leaves after 5 minutes and the female at 5:00. A Woodpigeon flies into the box a few moments later and circles the central columns 4 times before flying off after 5 minutes. The male is back at 5:40 for 10 minutes and again at 6:40 for another 10 minutes. He returns with a full crop at 8:20, leaving at 8:55. He is back on the ledge at 9:35 moving to the platform soon after, spending his time preening. He goes into the box at 11:10 on the arrival of the female and there is 10 minutes of calling and posturing until the male moves to the ledge then flies off. The female walks around the box moving stones and making scrapes in between preening. She is still in the box when the male returns at 12:40 and joins her. He flies out after 10 minutes and she walks to the platform, then walks to the ledge at 13:05 and flies off 5 minutes later. He lands briefly at 15:10 and again 5 minutes later. He returns for a few moments at 16:15 and 40 minutes later flies in with Rook as prey. He plucks it on the platform and flies off with it at 17:05. He is back at 17:25 but does not look as if he has eaten the prey; he picks at some scraps on the platform. He flies off after 10 minutes and makes short visits at 18:40 and 19:05. At 19:55, the pair fly in for another round of calling and posturing. The male leaves after 10 minutes and the female remains in the box, pulls the two central eggs together and ‘incubates’ them for 5 minutes before moving to the left-hand column. At 20:30 she walks to the platform and flies off. A few minutes later, the male flies in with his pre-plucked meal and is immediately followed by the female. He flies off with it and the female goes into the box to preen. She moves the left-hand egg and makes a scrape in the stones before returning to the left-hand column and falling asleep until midnight at least.
31 May – the female remains sleeping in the box until 2:00 when she walks to the ledge, flying off an hour later. The male flies in at 3:45 calling constantly for 10 minutes before walking into the box on the arrival of the female. She joins him in the box at 4:05 and there is 10 minutes of calling and posturing before the male flies out. The female drags the outlying egg closer to the centre of the box, then briefly sits on the two central eggs before returning to the ledge and flying off at 4:25. The pair return at 4:45 and the male goes into the box whilst the female sits on the ledge. He flies out a few minutes later and the female leaves at 5:10. The female returns at 5:35 with Feral Pigeon prey and proceeds to pluck it on the platform. The male flies into the box at 6:05 and the female flies off with her meal. He walks to the platform and picks at some scraps left over. He takes a short flight at 6:25 and leaves 5 minutes later. He returns at 7:00 and preens on the platform for 20 minutes then flies off. The pair are back 10 minutes later the female, now with a full crop, sits on the ledge whilst the male goes into the box. He checks out each of the four eggs but flies out when the female walks in. She too checks the eggs and briefly incubates the left most before moving stones around and returning to the ledge at 7:50. She walks back into the box at 9:00 and spends time moving stones then stands by the left-hand column. The male flies in at 10:05 then leaves after a few minutes calling and posturing. The female incubates the two central eggs, remaining on them until 11:05 – a full hour, the longest I recall she has sat on the eggs. She then moves to the left-hand egg and sits on that for a few minutes before returning to the ledge. The male is back in the box at 11:35 whilst she dozes on the ledge. He flies out at 12:40 returning an hour later when he is joined in the box by the female. They both leave at speed a few moments later, the male returning briefly at 15:55. He lands for a few moments at 18:00. The pair return together at 18:45, the male in the box and the female on the ledge. He flies off after 5 minutes and she preens on the platform and ledge. She goes into the box at 20:05 and sits on the central eggs for 5 minutes, then moves to the left-hand column and stands looking out and falls asleep remaining there until midnight at least.