Mobbing - paying the price

 

 

Over my 26 years of watching Peregrines, I like to think I have recorded most activities when it comes to Peregrines clashing with Crows, over the weekend I witnessed something different.

I have seen Crows knocked down by Peregrines before on 4 occasions, on all it was from a dive with the peregrine, in all cases a female, striking a wing or head. I have also retrieved Common Buzzards killed in the same way at nest sites.

I was at a Thameside nest site on Sunday very early a.m which had just successfully fledged 3 juveniles, a juvenile male in particular was already flying and landing strongly. On one of his sorties aloft, he came to the attention of 4 Crows, they were mobbing the juv male as he was making his way back to the nest site.

I knew where the adult Falcon had been sitting keeping an eye on him and the other 2, however she had gone.

I then picked her up heading straight for the Crows head on, on seeing her coming they did an about turn and headed back towards the river. As I do, I tried to get the camera on her keeping her in focus which to say the least was a challenge and I failed.

She missed on her first grab at a Crow but such was her speed, she then cast up to gain height, and then came back down with me just about staying on her with the camera.

As she neared the Crows, who were now trying to clear the buildings and head out over the Thames she hit one from the dive, I had lots of structures in the way and all but one of the following dark photos were out of focus.

With the Crow firmly held by her and stress calling, she headed out over the Thames when the Crow suddenly stopping calling. The last photo I took likely shows the reason why, very likely a neck bite to end it.

With the size and weight of the Crow, and the early hour, she was struggling getting any lift, about 30 metres out into the Thames she dropped it, quite obviously dead into the Thames.

Quite an incredible thing to witness, only one photo came out half decent, the neck bite, the rest are very out of focus but you get the picture.

                                                                Diving for the Crows

                                                                          Grabbed

                                                                        Crow held

                                                         Heading out over the Thames

                                          

                                                       Very likely the neck bite finished it

Spain

Guadalhorce April 30th



We have all been looking forward to this trip, namely Lee, Martin, Paul and myself, it’s becoming a fairly regular excursion, the lure of Spanish birding, socialising with my mates, good food and a drink or 2, makes it quite a special occasion.

We arrived on the 29th from Stanstead and stayed in La Cala, initially undertaking some afternoon local birding, before embarking and heading out on a planned itinerary at dawn the following day at Guadalhorce.

Having studied E Bird lists beforehand, we knew some good birds had been present, the dawn start was also in the hope of getting one of the rarer Herons flying out, and also the hope of connecting with a Red Necked Nightjar or a Barn Owl.

Our previous best total for the morning was 73 species, so a good “carrot” to keep us looking just that little bit harder.

Not surprisingly plenty of Nightingales everywhere and as dawn filtered in, plenty of good birds for the list.

No R N Nightjar/Barn Owl but Night Heron added although Purple/Squacco Heron evaded us all morning as did Great White Egret, all recently on the Reserve.

With daylight in full swing, the tally grew, Woodchat Shrikes were everywhere it seemed and easily into double figures, presumably the Reserve is a stop off before they disperse far and wide.

Nice to again see Greater Flamingo’s on the walk out to the sea, and additionally an adult Peregrine, very likely from the Cathedral as I understand they breed there.

Good numbers of Sandwich Terns as were Mediterranean Gulls, both these species were plentiful with smaller numbers of Slender Billed Gull and Whiskered Tern.



Not much moving on the sea other than a couple of Gannet, a good variety of waders included a couple of Curlew Sandpipers although we missed Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint which were present.

A good mornings birding, the total number of species seen – 73 again!

 

A busy week

 

May 11th – 15th



As above, last week regarding Peregrines has been eventful to say the least for Shaun, Paul and myself, its not often that all the accessible ringing pairs lay, and then hatch close together, this year they did.

We ringed/swabbed at no less than 5 peregrine sites, Monday (1), Wednesday (1), Thursday (1) and Friday(2), all London, London East and Essex.

A total of 19 chicks were BTO ringed with both metal and a white plastic colour ring by the boys, then followed up by DNA swabbing to combat wildlife crime. To touch on this DNA is being taken all over the UK Peregrine sites, to combat the illegal trade in taking wild chicks, the DNA will prove origins.

As per last year, I am also collecting Peregrine Pellets to be sent off for analysis via BTO, this is to see how much plastic is now getting in the food chain, also starting this year for Barn Owls.

Brood numbers were as follows, 3-4-3-4 and a fantastic brood of 5, the 5 very memorable with a very feisty adult female who refused to leave the box.

All went very well and good to catch up again with April, Tianna and Caroline who I used to work with at The Ecology Consultancy, now a different company as I understand it.

Lastly, a big well done to my buddy Lee on ringing his first Peregrine chick as a trainee, impressed.

                           Paul, myself and April at one of the sites - beard and hair nets a must!

                                 Our white colour rings - hopefully many sightings in the future

Battersea Power Station - April

 

 After last month's unprecedented adult Peregrine activity, where 4 adult Peregrines were present at one time, I must admit I was quite looking forward to this visit to see the outcome and hopefully some stability.

Arriving at dawn on the 12th,Sunday morning with a fair forecast, I headed straight for the Northern Park, on scanning around I could immediately hear a peregrine calling and then located it on the north east wash tower at his roost spot. This was as expected, he is now permanently paired with the older female, it was white ringed ABB from Parliament.

As the light grew, I located the female across the River on the old Thames Water Tower, she then flew back to the Power Station, ABB then attempted copulation but was rebuffed.
At 16 years of age, breeding is no longer on the females radar sadly, no longer able to lay eggs, she is still too strong to displace however by another female it seems.
It's unfortunate for the new male at 2 years of age, he is in his prime with at least 14 years separating him from the female! It will change, the female will eventually be replaced, and we will then very likely have young peregrines again gracing the Power Station.


Moving on from the Peregrines, I searched the remainder of the Northern Park for any spring migrants, not many on show other than 1 calling Chiffchaff.

However, resident Grey and Pied Wagtails were very active along the River Wall, males are already on territory singing, trying to attract females, hopefully one or both species will adopt one of the new nest boxes placed for them.
Goldfinches continue to flourish all over the Estate, the small trees provide nesting sites along with natural seeds/buds for feeding, their nests are tiny but only become visible in the Autumn when leaves drop and all is revealed.

Blue and Great Tits are already in some of the nest boxes which is good news, every year as habitat increases and matures, we get more uptake on the nest boxes.

Phase 3/4 is still the hotspot for Black Redstarts, only the male was seen which very likely means the female is in attendance already at a nest site possibly. Also a good range of other species present there, including a very confiding Wren that seemed to follow me around scolding me, very likely a nest close by.

The Sunday morning list from my visit was 29 species on or over the Power Station, it’s on E Bird if of interest, it usually ranges in the 28-30 bracket every month so we can keep an eye on progress.

Beckton Kestrels

 

As of last weekend she still hadn't laid, however she is sticking very close to the nest box and hunting nearby occasionally in between periods waiting for the male to arrive with prey.

Recent prey seen has been Mice and what looked like a Lizard, would suspect she may well have laid by now.

                                                                            Female

                                                                        Grey Wagtail

                                                                    Birds and the Bees

                                                                              Male

                                                      Surrounded - suspect a small Crab