September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021

1 September – the female flies in at 6:30 and picks at some scraps on the platform but leaves five minutes later. She is back at 18:35, searches the box for food, then flies off. There is no other activity today.

2 September – the female flies in with fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 9:00 which she plucks and eats on the platform. She stashes the remains in the box at 11:10, then sits on the ledge, flying off five minutes later. She is back at 18:40 and recovers the stash and feeds on it and flies off with the remnants at 19:35.

3 September – there was no activity on camera today.

4 September – the male flies into the box at 5:05 and is on the platform at 6:45, leaving ten minutes later. The female arrives at 7:45 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey which she plucks and eats. She stashes the remains by a column at 9:15. The male is back ten minutes later and the female goes into the box leaving her meal unattended. He grabs hold of the stash but before he is able to leave, the female also takes hold and the pair fly off the platform each with a foot on the prey. The female is back at 10:10, without her meal, and goes into the box before moving to the ledge and flying off. There is no more activity on camera.

4 September 2021 – Video: the male sneaks in to steal the female’s meal but she has other ideas.

5 September – the male flies into the box at 6:05 and is joined by the female at 6:25. He leaves a few moments later and she moves to the ledge, then flies off at 6:35. She returns at 7:20 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey which she stashes by a column, then leaves. She is back at 11:25, retrieves her stash and feeds on it. She stashes the remains by a column at 13:50 and sits on the ledge. The male immediately sneaks in and steals her meal. He returns to the box at 17:00 and is joined by the female. There are a few minutes of calling before she moves back to the ledge and he flies out; she leaves at 18:15.

6 September – the female flies in carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 10:05. She plucks and eats it on the platform stashing the remains in the box at 10:55, then moves to the ledge. She flies off at 11:20 but is back on the ledge at 12:15. She goes into the box at 15:20 when the male flies in. She then moves back to the opposite ledge and there is calling between the pair. He flies off after 15 minutes and she remains on the ledge until 18:55 when she leaves. She is back again at 20:25 remaining until midnight at least.

7 September – the flies off at 5:55 and male flies in and searches for scraps on the platform. He leaves at 6:10. The pair return at 9:50 and go into the box. They play a bit of cat and mouse, then the male hides behind the central columns and the female sits on the ledge. She takes a brief flight at 10:05, the male leaves soon after and she follows. He is back quickly and remains on the platform until 11:50 when he moves to the ledge. He leaves when the female arrives at 14:25 and she flies off at 16:55. The male is back at 18:30 and searches the box looking for food before quickly leaving.

8 September – the male flies into the box at 9:20 and is joined by the female at 9:45. There are a few minutes of cat and mouse before she flies off; he sits on the platform. He returns to the box when the female is back at 10:15. She then replaces him, and he flies off a few minutes later. She leaves after ten minutes returning to the ledge at 14:15. He takes a short flight at 14:35. The female almost lands on him when she returns at 14:55; he jumps over to the opposite ledge, then flies off. She leaves an hour later, returning at 19:20 carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey which she plucks and eats on the platform continuing into the darkness of the night. She stashes it by a column at 20:15 and then settles on the ledge for the evening.

9 September – the male flies in at 6:00 and the female immediately secures her stash. He flies off five minutes later and she feeds on her meal on the platform. She stashes the remains 20 minutes later and sits on the ledge. She flies off after few minutes allowing the male to sneak in and steal her meal. He returns with a full crop at 7:10 and settles on the ledge. The female is back at 10:35 and looks for her stash. The pair have a few moments bonding in the box before she moves to the ledge. They swap places 20 minutes later, but she forces the male to fly off and returns to the ledge. He is back on the opposite ledge at 11:15. She forces him from the ledge ten minutes later and she takes his place, then flies off at 16:00. The male is back at 17:40 before leaving at 19:00.

10 September – the male arrives at 6:40 and leaves at 7:00. The female flies in at 8:25 with very fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She feeds on her meal and stashes the remains at 9:30, then sits on the ledge. She moves to the opposite ledge at 11:05 remaining until 15:30 when she flies off.

11 September – the female arrives with very fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 8:20 and starts to pluck and eat it. The male flies into the box at 8:55 which stops her from feeding; she protects her meal. He flies out ten minutes later and the female resumes feeding. He is back on the ledge at 9:50 and the female is interrupted again. She flies off with her meal at 10:25 and he follows. The male is back at 10:40 and picks at some scraps on the platform – he obviously didn’t get the meal and leaves a few minutes later. The female is back at 10:55 clutching the remnants of the pigeon and is quickly followed by the male. She stashes her meal but even before her back is turned, he steals it and flies out. The female sits on the ledge with a very full crop, remaining until 18:45 when she flies off. She is back at 19:40 remaining until midnight at least.

12 September – something catches the female’s eye at 5:10 and she flies out in the dark. The male flies in at 5:55 and sits on the ledge until 7:35 when he leaves and is replaced by the female. She searches the box for food before settling on the ledge. The male flies into the box at 7:55 but the female forces him out a few moments later. Unperturbed, he is soon back looking for food but leaves five minutes later; she follows at 8:10. He returns at 8:50, flying off when the female returns at 12:00. She looks around the box then sits on the ledge watching the sky. She flies off after five minutes retuning with fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 14:35 that she plucks and eats on the platform. She stashes the remains by a column at 15:15 and flies off. The male immediately comes in and feeds on the pigeon. He has had his fill at 16:10 and stashes the leftovers and leaves. The female is back at 19:30 and finishes the remnants, then moves to the ledge remaining until midnight at least.

13 September – the female picks at some scraps on the platform at 5:05. The male lands and seems to startle the female and the pair leave. The male is soon back but is forced off by the female who picks at the scraps then settles back onto the ledge. she is off at 5:45 and is replaced by the male who searches the box then moves to the ledge. A pigeon flies by at 7:55 and he gives chase. There is no further activity until the male flies in at 17:55 and looks around the box, then sits on the ledge for five minutes before flying off. The female is back at 18:40 but leaves soon after.

14 September – the female flies in with fresh Feral Pigeon prey despite the fact it is still dark at 4:35. She stashes the remains by a column at 5:55 and sits on the ledge until 6:50 when she flies off. The male arrives at 7:40 and leaves with the stash. There was no further activity on camera today.

15 September – there was no activity until the female flies in at 12:20, flying off after five minutes. The male flies into the box an hour later and is quickly joined by the female. He soon flies out and she moves to the ledge but leaves at 13:35. She is back at 19:00 carrying a partly-eaten Feral Pigeon. She feeds on the platform stashing the remains by a column at 40 minutes later. She sits on the ledge with a full crop remaining until midnight at least.

16 September – the female remains on the ledge from the previous evening until 4:50 when she flies off. The male lands at 5:30 and flies off ten minutes later when the female arrives carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey. The male flies into the box at 6:25 to check out the female’s progress. She stops feeding until he leaves 15 minutes later. She stashes the remains a few moments later and flies off. The male arrives immediately and feeds on the pigeon. He stashes the remnants at 7:25 and leaves. The female returns at 12:30 and sits on the ledge. She goes into the box when the male arrives an hour later. She immediately grabs hold of the stashed pigeon and the male flies off. She feeds on the pigeon and returns to the ledge at 14:05, flying off at 15:05. The male flies in 17:45 and goes into the box before sitting on the ledge. Something catches his eye above him at 19:30 and he flies off quickly mid-preen. There is no further activity on camera this evening.

17 September – the pair fly in together at 6:00 but the male leaves as soon as the female lands. She picks at scraps on the platform, looks in the box then settles on the ledge until 6:25 when she flies off. The male is back 25 minutes later and goes into the box until 7:00 when he moves to the ledge. He flies off at 7:45 when the female arrives with very fresh Feral Pigeon prey which she plucks and eats on the platform. She stashes the remains at 8:35. She goes into the box at 9:00 when the male arrives to steal her stash. She returns to the ledge until 10:10 when she flies off. The male returns with a full crop at 12:40. He takes a short flight at 13:35 and calls loudly on his return. He settles back on the ledge until 14:15 when he flies out, lands briefly calling, then takes off again when the female lands also calling loudly; there appears to be an intruder in the area. She sits on the ledge watching the skies and flies out at 14:45. The male returns to the box ten minutes later, then moves to the ledge where he remains until he flies off on the arrival of the female at 18:50. She picks at scraps on the platform, then moves to the ledge. She is joined by the male in the box at 19:45 but after a few minutes of bonding he sits on the ledge before being forced off at 20:00. The female flies off at 22:20, returning 20 minutes later and remaining until midnight.

18 September – the female notices something above her at 4:35 and takes off and is replaced on the ledge by the male who falls asleep. He flies off at 5:40 returning at 10:05 and sits on the platform until moving to the ledge at 13:05. He flies off when the female arrives back 50 minutes later. She leaves at 14:35 and is back on the ledge at 18:25 until midnight at least.

19 September – the female flies off at 4:05 and is replaced by the male. She is back at 6:25 and goes into the box as the male flies out. She moves to the ledge and looks out over the city in the dark, then flies out a few moments later. The male returns at 8:15 but flies off after 20 minutes. He is back on the ledge at 10:25. The female flies into the box at 15:15 and five minutes later forces the male from the ledge but she leaves soon after. She returns at 17:05 with a large item of prey, already half-eaten. She continues to eat on the platform and stashes the remnants by a column at 18:00 and settles on the ledge with a full crop, remaining until midnight at least.

20 September – the female remains on the ledge until 6:05 when she picks up the stashed prey and eats it, then returns to the ledge. She flies off at 6:15 and is replaced by the male ten minutes later who feeds on the scraps. He is startled by the arrival of the female a few moments later and flies out. She sits back on the ledge until 6:35 when she leaves. The male lands at 9:35 and goes into the box, flying out 20 minutes later. The female is back on the ledge at 12:25 and goes into the box an hour later, on the arrival of the male. She moves back to the ledge a few moments later and he enters the box. He flies out at 12:40 and she follows. There is no more activity on camera today.

21 September – the male flies in at 6:05. A Stock Dove lands on the platform at 6:55 and he rushes towards it off but does not fly after it; he settles back on the ledge but flies off ten minutes later. The female flies in at 7:35 carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey. She plucks and eats it on the platform, stashing the remains by a column at 8:25 and settles on the ledge with a full crop. The male arrives at 11:05 and tries to steal the stash but the female is too quick this time and he flies off. She re-stashes the remains and sits back on the ledge. He is back ten minutes later, and this time snatches the meal before the female can get to it. Unfortunately, he drops it and the female chases after him. She returns a few minutes later but leaves again at 11:25, returning at 12:45. She is off at 16:10 and the male lands briefly a few moments later sporting a full crop – he obviously managed to secure a meal. The pair return at 19:25 and the male goes into the box. She joins him for a few minutes before moving to the ledge; he leaves at 19:40 and she remains until midnight at least.

22 September – the female flies off at 5:25 and returns with the male an hour later. He soon flies out and she moves to the ledge, leaving after ten minutes. The male is back at 6:40 until 7:20, returning after 20 minutes. He is off again at 7:55 and back an hour later. He rushes into the box at 9:45 as a female passes by the platform – hopefully the resident bird! A few moments later she lands and takes his place. He sits on the platform then moves into the box for a few minutes bonding; he then returns to the ledge. He flies off at 10:10 and is followed quickly by the female. She is back at 11:05 and goes into the box and makes scrapes in the stones before moving to the ledge 50 minutes later. Something overhead catches her attention at 14:35 and she flies off. She is back half an hour later. At 16:15, after pecking at scraps, she flies out and the male flies in. He too makes scrapes in the stones and moves to the ledge after ten minutes, then flies off at 17:05. The female returns at 19:25 and is soon joined by the male. She sits on the ledge for the rest of the evening whilst he sits in the box until 19:40 when he flies out.

23 September – the female looks for scraps on the platform at 6:15 and the male flies into the box a few minutes later. There is a brief period of bonding before she leaves, and he sits on the ledge. He flies off at 7:15 and returns briefly at 10:25. There is no more activity until 19:20 when the female flies in with a full crop and sits on the ledge. She flies off 20 minutes later but does not return this evening.

24 September – the male flies in at 4:45 and falls asleep. He takes a short flight at 6:45 and leaves at 7:00. The male flies in at 7:45 and the female five minutes later but he leaves after a quick turnaround in the box. She moves to the ledge and looks over the city until flying off at 7:55. The male is back briefly at 9:35 and sits on the ledge. He moves to the box when the female arrives with fresh prey at 10:20. She feeds on it whilst the male watches from the box. He runs out of patience at 10:45 and tries to sneak in and snatch it from her. She feels him behind her and flies off with her meal. He has to make do with some scraps left on the platform, then flies off a few minutes later. He is back at 11:10 for five minutes and leaves when the female returns with a full crop and sits on the ledge. The male is back at 12:45 and goes into the box until 13:40 when he flies out. He returns ten minutes later and sits on the opposite ledge looking well fed. He flies off at 14:55 and she leaves at 16:35 when something grabs her attention. The pair are back at 19:35 and go into the box. There is calling between them then the male leaves after five minutes. The female continues to call for a number of minutes after the male has left and then moves to the ledge, remaining for the rest of the evening.

24 September 2021 – Video: yet another unsuccessful attempt by the male to steal the female’s meal.

25 September – the male arrives at 2:55 whilst the female is still on the ledge; he goes into the box. The female flies off at 5:30 after watching something overhead in the dark. The male moves from the box to the ledge at 6:25, flying off 30 minutes later. The female flies in carrying fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 7:40. She plucks and feeds on the platform, stashing the remains by a column at 8:35 and flies off ten minutes later. The male flies in at 12:15 and snatches the stashed prey but the female is hot on his tail and before he can fly off, she has snatched it back; he flies off without a meal. The female feeds on the remains, stashes what is left at 12:35 and sits on the ledge. At 17:10, she decides to have another feed on the stashed pigeon. She is back on the ledge 25 minutes later. She goes into the box at 17:40 as the male flies in and this time he manages to escape with the remnants of her meal. She moves back to the ledge and flies off at 18:05. There is no further activity this evening.

26 September – the female flies in at 00:30. She remains on the ledge until 6:00 when she walks around the box looking for food, then returns to the ledge. She goes into the box when the male lands at 6:35 but he soon leaves, and she follows. He is back at 6:55 and after a quick visit to the box, sits on the ledge. He retreats into the box, then leaves quickly when the female flies in carrying very fresh Feral Pigeon prey at 7:25. She plucks and feeds on it on the platform stashing the remains at 8:10 and sits on the ledge. She flies off 15 minutes later and is replaced by the male. He manages to snatch the stash just before the female returns; she follows after him. The female is back at 11:10 and goes into the back of the box where she preens and scrapes the stones before moving to the platform at 11:25 and then the ledge where she remains until 15:40 when she flies off. The male returns at 16:20 and goes into the box and the female follows a few moments later. He moves to the ledge and she sits on the opposite side. He flies off at 16:30 and she follows soon after. The male is back at 19:25 and goes into the box two hours later when the female returns to sit on the ledge. They remain in their respective positions until midnight at least.

27 September – the male flies out at 00:15 whilst the female remains on the ledge until 6:45 when she is replaced by the male. He goes into the box at 7:15 when she returns with another fresh Feral Pigeon which she plucks and feeds on the platform. The male flies out at 9:00 and she stashes the remains by a column at 9:45, flying off a few minutes later. Surprisingly, the male does not return to try and steal the stash. The female is back at 13:40 and goes into the box where she stays for over two hours until 15:45 when she decides to feed on the rest of the pigeon. She has finished after 30 minutes and moves to the ledge. The male flies in a few minutes later and tries to snatch the stash but he is too slow, and the female retains her meal. He sits on the ledge for a few moments then flies off. She keeps hold of her meal until 16:30 when she re-stashes it and sits on it and returns to the ledge with a full crop. The male is back for another attempt at 17:25 but the female grabs the pigeon and feeds whilst he sits on the ledge. After 15 minutes, she stashes the remains and the male sneaks in and pinches it; she does not give chase but settles on the ledge for the rest of the evening.

28 September – the female feeds on a few scraps on the platform at 6:45 and flies off a few minutes later. There is no further activity until 16:35 when the female carries in very fresh Feral Pigeon prey which she plucks and eats on the platform. She finishes eating at 17:30, stashes the remains and sits on the ledge with a full crop. She remains on the ledge until midnight at least.

29 September – the female flies out at 2:50 – she has a meal stashed so it would unlikely be a hunting flight. She returns at 3:20 and immediately picks up her meal and feeds for 15 minutes, then sits on the ledge and falls asleep. At 6:30, she notices the male flying in, and takes hold of her stash. He lands and immediately takes off realising he has no chance of stealing her pigeon. This entices her to feed again for 20 minutes then flies off at 6:55. The male flies in a few minutes later and snatches the pigeon and feeds on it. He leaves with it at 7:25. The female returns at 10:10 and picks at some scraps on the platform before going into the box. She moves back to the ledge at 12:50, over two and a half hours later, then flies off at 13:30. The male flies in soon after, but quickly leaves. The female returns at 19:05 and sits on the ledge. She takes a short flight at 20:05 and returns a few minutes later with a small prey item – unfortunately the identity hidden by the central column. She returns to the ledge at 20:45 and flies off again at 21:25 returning with a new prey item for her – a Snipe. She stashes it by a column, sits on the ledge then flies off after a few minutes. The male lands at 22:20 and strangely walks past the Snipe and sits on the ledge for a few moments before flying off. The female returns again at 22:40 carrying another prey item – a Teal, which she plucks and feeds on. She leaves the remains on the platform at 23:05 and moves to the ledge and falls asleep.

30 September – the female wakens at 4:25 and feeds on the Teal. She stashes the remains by a column an hour later and returns to the ledge to sleep. She goes into the box when the male flies in at 6:50 and he snatches the Teal remains. She checks the Snipe and secures it by a column and flies off at 7:40. The male flies in with a full crop at 8:30 and is followed quickly by the female. He goes into the box and the female grabs the remains of last night’s prey item. The male flies out and she leaves a few minutes later carrying her meal. She is back at 15:15 and picks at the scraps from this morning’s Teal. She then takes hold of the stashed Snipe but does not feed, just re-stashes it and sits on the ledge. Two hours later and she cannot resist, takes the Snipe, plucks and feeds for a short time and is back on the ledge 17:25. She goes into the box at 17:45 for a few minutes, then returns to the ledge. She can resist the temptation no longer and at 23:20 starts to feed on the remains of the Snipe. She is back on the ledge 30 minutes later.

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