Battersea Power Station - April

 

 After last month's unprecedented adult Peregrine activity, where 4 adult Peregrines were present at one time, I must admit I was quite looking forward to this visit to see the outcome and hopefully some stability.

Arriving at dawn on the 12th,Sunday morning with a fair forecast, I headed straight for the Northern Park, on scanning around I could immediately hear a peregrine calling and then located it on the north east wash tower at his roost spot. This was as expected, he is now permanently paired with the older female, it was white ringed ABB from Parliament.

As the light grew, I located the female across the River on the old Thames Water Tower, she then flew back to the Power Station, ABB then attempted copulation but was rebuffed.
At 16 years of age, breeding is no longer on the females radar sadly, no longer able to lay eggs, she is still too strong to displace however by another female it seems.
It's unfortunate for the new male at 2 years of age, he is in his prime with at least 14 years separating him from the female! It will change, the female will eventually be replaced, and we will then very likely have young peregrines again gracing the Power Station.


Moving on from the Peregrines, I searched the remainder of the Northern Park for any spring migrants, not many on show other than 1 calling Chiffchaff.

However, resident Grey and Pied Wagtails were very active along the River Wall, males are already on territory singing, trying to attract females, hopefully one or both species will adopt one of the new nest boxes placed for them.
Goldfinches continue to flourish all over the Estate, the small trees provide nesting sites along with natural seeds/buds for feeding, their nests are tiny but only become visible in the Autumn when leaves drop and all is revealed.

Blue and Great Tits are already in some of the nest boxes which is good news, every year as habitat increases and matures, we get more uptake on the nest boxes.

Phase 3/4 is still the hotspot for Black Redstarts, only the male was seen which very likely means the female is in attendance already at a nest site possibly. Also a good range of other species present there, including a very confiding Wren that seemed to follow me around scolding me, very likely a nest close by.

The Sunday morning list from my visit was 29 species on or over the Power Station, it’s on E Bird if of interest, it usually ranges in the 28-30 bracket every month so we can keep an eye on progress.