Where Ollie and I walk,down by the River Whiteadder, there is a peregrine nest site on a cliff face above the river.The site has been used for at least the last 10 years and this year another 3 young have been raised.We walk down there nearly every day and so the birds have got used to our presence from before their courting,mating,egg laying,brooding and feeding of the chicks as they steadily grew in size.There have also been fishermen on the river below the nest site on many of the days as well and so the birds have been quite used to a certain amount of human activity in their vicinity.
And so on the sunday before last I decided to stop below the nest site for a short while to photograph the three young birds.They were all a good size,with two looking ready to fly the nest.There was much preening,wing exercising and general jostling about.One of the adults flew by to check on them but wandered off again,satisfied that all was ok.We didn’t stay too long,took the pictures and left them to themselves.
The next day,one had flown.Tuesday a second had also flown and by the Thursday all three were flying.They’ll remain close to the site for a while,calling noisily to be fed and still returning to the nesting ledge on a regular basis.So Ollie and I still have their company every day and what noisy company it is too,at the moment.
Any disturbance around the nest site should be kept to a minimum and a good distance away.The birds’ welfare should always come first.
Feathers fly during preening.
Exercising wing muscles.
Fascinating stuff,this wing stretching.
Feed me,feed me.
Ganging up on littl’un.
