Battersea December 14th 2025

A great weekend of weather, with plenty of sunshine at long last. Although it was cold in the mornings, Sunday delivered a lovely sunrise.

The first bird I encountered was the female Peregrine. With no male present since May to bring in prey, she is now entirely reliant on her own hunting skills. Her roosting spot remains unchanged: well sheltered from the wind and benefiting from residual warmth from the brickwork, allowing her to stay fluffed up and warm throughout the night. Sadly, her breeding days are now behind her.

Due to her age, her last brood was in 2021, when she successfully fledged three juveniles. Nevertheless, since her arrival at the Power Station in 2012, she has been an exceptional female, raising and fledging an impressive total of 26 juveniles.

After seeing off a Crow from her territory, she made a direct line towards the crane across the river and began hunting. A flock of Ring-necked Parakeets was targeted, but unfortunately the attempt was unsuccessful. On bright days hunting can be more challenging, as prey tends to spot her earlier and evade more easily. In this instance, the parakeets dived into the trees across the river.

Whether loved or loathed, Ring-necked Parakeets are a non-native species that were accidentally introduced and here to stay. They can cause significant damage to trees and shrubs, particularly during the budding season. Their size and aggressive behaviour also mean that native hole-nesting species—such as Great, Blue and Coal Tits, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Robin, Wren and Nuthatches—are often displaced, which is far from ideal. Peregrines, however, are particularly fond of them.

Leaving her to continue hunting, I moved on to survey the wider area, starting at the Coaling Jetty. Grey and Pied Wagtails were present, roosting in the riverside Buddleia, all quickly dispersed to forage as they usually do. I then visited the roof gardens, where the female Black Redstart was present, along with Goldfinch, Blue and Great Tits, Wren, and a good number of Robins dotted around.

I also spent time looking for the Kestrel. I am fairly confident I would have seen him if he were present, it’s possible that he has moved on.

Moving on to the pre-construction area again produced the highest number of sightings, unsurprising given the complete lack of disturbance. The pair of Black Redstarts were present as usual, and nest boxes will soon be installed for them.

I finished the morning with 28 species recorded, a good result considering the habitat loss resulting from the Ice Rink footprint. The year list now stands at 47 species seen or heard, while the life list sits at 98—tantalisingly close to the target of 100.

Next month, I will be cleaning out all existing nest boxes and relocating a few where necessary. With uptake increasing year on year, I am hopeful that this season will be no different.

Happy New Year to everyone.