Battersea Power Station

 

June 19th




Lots of broods of young birds around, especially juvenile Goldfinches and Blue/Great Tits, I would suspect using the nest boxes around the Estate. All will be revealed when I check them in the late Autumn.
Good also to see Grey Wagtail young along the river with a singing Wren nearby, usually pretty skulky, this one was out on show going for it.

The male Black Redstart was heard singing early a.m around Switch House East Gardens, it was later seen dropping down to the Phase 3 area.

A male Sparrowhawk was also seen ghosting through the trees.

I finished the morning on 28 species, with the coming of the Autumn we should get a few more migrants going through.

In regard to the Peregrines, despite arriving early a.m, I didn't see one for quite a while on this visit, the Falcon eventually arriving.

I am expecting the female to change, at a minimum of 14/15 years of age, likely more, she is holding on well. However, having looked at the recorded camera footage, there is now no sign of the Tiercel in all of June, only the Falcon. He doesn’t access the nest box as much as the female, but he often does display to her regularly even this late in breeding.

Hopefully better news on the Peregrines in July, will the male show, the female at 14+, just how long can she hang on?

She arrived in the winter of 2011/2012 as an adult, she is ringed and has certain facial characteristics, so I know there has been no change.

Having last bred in 2021, we will see what 2026 brings.

Knowing how much established pairs often get challenged and checked out by intruders, especially in London, with its density of single peregrines on the outskirts and outer counties, she has done a remarkable job hanging on this long.

Kestrels - Sparrowhawk

The last and latest of the Kestrels were ringed last week by Shaun, 5 chicks in all, as before it’s been a bit of a barmy year, 2 nest sites were a month behind compared to 2024 ringing.

One pair adopted a Barn Owl box after seemingly ousting the male Barn Owl from the roost box, due to them laying late, it seems they lost their own Kestrel Box to a pair of Stock Doves. Out of sync, possibly weather related, they then laid later, unable presumably to oust the Stock Doves, as there 2 young were to far advanced, so they then set their eyes on the Barn Owl Box.

The 2nd pair of Kestrels were again a month behind and Shaun again ringed these, 2 chicks again more or less the same size as the others, hardly any difference between both broods.

                                                         2 of the 3 in the Barn Owl Box

                                                                 Fingers crossed for her

I also picked up a female Sparrowhawk on Thursday, she had flown into glass it seems and has sustained a fractured right wing. She is in the best hands with Sue and Tom at the Wildlife Hospital, but at least 4 weeks before she can hopefully be returned.

Lots on the Peregrine front but will post later on this.