Battersea Power Station January 18th

The female Peregrine is still with us, she has made a mockery of my predictions in the last couple of years saying that she will soon be replaced.

On other Peregrine sites, due to the singles density in London and outer counties, unpaired/older birds are usually replaced.
It hasn't happened at the Power Station, it is in peregrine terms, a prime London structure so she must still simply be too strong and will not be budged by other intruding females.

In February and March when many unpaired adults, or immatures look for territories, may well test her. Seem to recall saying the same thing last year.


Looking back historically, the pair that were present in the very early years, failed to breed from 2008 until 2012, the female undoubtedly became too old to lay eggs/breed, much the same as what’s happening presently.
The current female took over in the winter of 2011/2012, likely either driving off or even killing the old female, she arrived in adult plumage.
With the male having sadly disappeared last May 2025, it obviously need a new single and hopefully then, a pair.


The Ice Rink has now been dismantled and the ground/grass once again is more accessible to wildlife, Pied and Grey Wagtails were back on it looking for grubs as soon as it was light.

Blue and Great Tits were evident with a couple already showing an interest in nest boxes, as per previous years, I will be cleaning these out in preparation for the 2026 breeding season.

Goldfinches were again evident on the Feeders, these have been an undoubted success given the numbers of Goldies present, a reliable food source gets many of them through the winter, especially older and younger birds.


Phase 4 again proved the hotspot with the resident pair of Black Redstarts very active along with Grey/Pied Wagtails, Robin, Wren, both Great/Blue Tits and Dunnocks.
Nest Boxes are again going up, specifically aimed at Black Redstarts to try and keep them away from Construction.
The fact that this pair of Black Redstarts have wintered shows a really good food source, usually they arrive around early April.

No doubt the Green Roofs are playing their part but also, having seen them at the base of the Feeders, picking off discarded Sunflower hearts from the goldfinches, the feeders are helping also.

29 species recorded which is a good start to the year.