Battersea Power Station

 

February 10th



A good visit as they all are, with no less than 5 Grey Wagtails squabbling for a mate and territory squabbling at the Riverside, it seems to start earlier every year.

The Power Station, since I have been here, has always been a haven for them and they have bred every year since my arrival in 2000, along with Pied Wagtails, both species are extremely site faithful. These will again nest in the River Wall no doubt, any recess/niche hidden behind Buddleia growth will be firm favourites. The way things are shaping up, it again looks like 2 pairs of Greys and 1 pair of Pied Wagtail as per most years.

Also of note, there are 2 Chiffchaff, these are favouring the gardens aloft on the Power Station, it’s a bit of microclimate up there and no doubt to their liking.

Good to note in Aurora Gardens also that a pair of Blue Tits are already showing an interest in one of the nest boxes.

Eventually the Peregrines did show, she came in with a partial Feral Pigeon, and as per normal, the Tiercel showed up shortly after.

She headed straight to her favoured feeding ledge and began to feed and he then did little else, perching up a short distance away and quite content to just sit and wait for her.

She is still the same female, no copulation noted either throughout the morning, they do however continue to display in the nest box fairly regularly.

So, as it stands at 13+, she has not been replaced by another Falcon, so it could be that she will fail to produce an egg or 2, we will see. Egg laying, if it happens, I expect around the end of March.

Additionally it is still possible that she may be replaced in the next month or 2, there are an awful lot of single Peregrines challengers, waiting in the wings in London and the outer counties.