October 27th
A Monday visit, getting a train up from Hornchurch, a nice bright morning to start off, but very cold up there with a very strong westerly wind.
Arriving at 6.50a.m, I scanned around checking all the usual hotspots, but it was 7.30a.m before I located the Tiercel firstly.
Right from the start it was obvious that he was hunting, eventually being joined by the Falcon.
More often than not on hunting, singularly, it's the usual fly to a high point and perch - i.e. a Crane or Tall Building and launch sorties from this. Central Spire is used more than Victoria Tower, as it offers better all-round viewing being smaller, basically you can spot more potential prey in any direction.
Right from the start it was obvious that he was hunting, eventually being joined by the Falcon.
More often than not on hunting, singularly, it's the usual fly to a high point and perch - i.e. a Crane or Tall Building and launch sorties from this. Central Spire is used more than Victoria Tower, as it offers better all-round viewing being smaller, basically you can spot more potential prey in any direction.
Another method is using and hanging in the wind, in this case it was pair hunting, I watched them both doing this over towards Vauxhall above a high rise possibly trying to flush Feral Pigeons.
The classic and very rarely seen, is too thermal up extremely high, and then stoop on unsuspecting prey below, I have seen it a couple of time, spectacular to say the least and unbelievable speed. Estimates go from 160 - 200mph, 242 mph has been claimed for one stoop, a Falconers bird as I understand it fitted with some sort of device.
Whatever is the correct speed, it is something to see, they actually have to slow themselves down on impact not surprisingly.
One hunt I also watched, he came in very low from the river, absolutely flat out passing Central Spire obviously on a distant something, staying low and then passing the Abbey. Got one photo over near the Abbey, got the impression he was using the buildings to screen his approach.
Stunning stuff and something to witness, even for me who has been watching them for 25 years, just a pity I cannot do them justice with the camera, trying to keep up with them on the auto focus is another matter.
Despite the windy conditions, other birds made themselves known, mostly the usual species, of note was 59 Chaffinch all going west made up of 5 flocks.
Lots of wintering birds now on the move coming in and passing through including nocturnal movers, especially Woodcock, I would suspect the peregrines will soon start hunting at night using the City's artificial light.
The classic and very rarely seen, is too thermal up extremely high, and then stoop on unsuspecting prey below, I have seen it a couple of time, spectacular to say the least and unbelievable speed. Estimates go from 160 - 200mph, 242 mph has been claimed for one stoop, a Falconers bird as I understand it fitted with some sort of device.
Whatever is the correct speed, it is something to see, they actually have to slow themselves down on impact not surprisingly.
One hunt I also watched, he came in very low from the river, absolutely flat out passing Central Spire obviously on a distant something, staying low and then passing the Abbey. Got one photo over near the Abbey, got the impression he was using the buildings to screen his approach.
Stunning stuff and something to witness, even for me who has been watching them for 25 years, just a pity I cannot do them justice with the camera, trying to keep up with them on the auto focus is another matter.
Despite the windy conditions, other birds made themselves known, mostly the usual species, of note was 59 Chaffinch all going west made up of 5 flocks.
Lots of wintering birds now on the move coming in and passing through including nocturnal movers, especially Woodcock, I would suspect the peregrines will soon start hunting at night using the City's artificial light.
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Falcon
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Pair hunting in the wind over towards Vauxhall
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Tiercel
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Hard to portray the speed, a flat out Tiercel
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Peregrine favourites - Tiercel on distant Crane
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