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.