Fox

Some photos taken from the Flat during lock down. The Fox is getting pretty tame with no people around and at times is looking exceptionally relaxed.

Dark and worrying times but nature is always there to look at,stay safe everyone.

Battersea Power Station Prey

Jan 1st – April 1st



Since the start of the year with the aid of the CCTV, I have been recording prey which has been taken into range of the cameras.

It marks a 3 month period, most of which I can identify but obviously some not, some of the unidentified were also taken at night.

Obviously due to the cameras I am aware of just how much they are hunting nocturnally, I am very lucky to be able to record and monitor this, on playback you miss absolutely nothing.

A massive thanks go to Battersea Power Station Development Company Ltd for allowing me to do this; it offers an incredible insight into their behaviour, especially nocturnally.

Below is what I have recorded so far.


Feral Pigeon – 35 – (21 Diurnal/14 Nocturnal)

Ring Necked Parakeet – 10 Diurnal

Starling – 4 Diurnal

Goldfinch – 2 Diurnal

Woodcock – 2 Nocturnal

Fieldfare – 1 Nocturnal

Moorhen – 2 Nocturnal

Little Grebe – 2 Nocturnal

Redwing – 1 Nocturnal

Chaffinch – 2 Diurnal

Unidentified – 6 (4 nocturnal – 2 diurnal)



You will notice that a good percentage of the prey taken is nocturnal, in the case of Feral Pigeons the Falcon was very active from the hours of 2.30a.m, this was exceptionally regular.

Of the prey I recorded - 67 species it equates to 41 Diurnal and 26 Nocturnal, so it works out 38% of prey was nocturnally taken during this time period.

Although the Tiercel joins in the nocturnal hunts from the Tower, the main hunter was always the Falcon pre egg laying. Having checked the Refuse Centre next door nocturnally, it is very open and accessible, it is also illuminated inside and the Feral Pigeons access it at all hours as a food source.

The nocturnal Feral Pigeon prey is being taken, whilst the pigeons are leaving/flying back to the Power Station from roost, accessing the Refuse Centre at all hours. It ties in with the start of the hunt on camera, when she takes a Feral and then how long she is away from the camera, they are only short flights.

I also believe that over the course of time they are taking Feral Pigeons at roost, having seen where they roost in darkness, there is little doubt that birds roosting also provide a prey source.

Having watched other pairs nocturnally, I know they and many other pairs are using London’s artificial light, I think the Power Station pair, have exploited the Power Station Feral Pigeon population and took it a stage further. This is substantiated by the amount of night time prey taken, they are exploiting an available food source, additionally they are also supplementing this with wild birds moving along the river or overhead.

The ghostly image is the Falcon returning with a Moorhen

Tiercel hunting

Just taken prey

It could be that many pairs may well be hunting like this more extensively, I have just been lucky enough to record it on camera more.

Of course the number of prey species, which I have seen on the cameras, is no doubt just a percentage of what was really taken, the fact of the matter is that they won’t bring all prey back to the cameras.

There are a number of other positions/caching points which they use regularly, so the total is likely far higher for prey recorded for the 3 months.

Cooling Marshes

Both myself and Paul managed to finish the last of the surveys in March before we went into lock down, March was the finish of them before we hopefully begin again in October.

It’s been 2 a month, high and low tide and if I recall correctly this is our 7th consecutive year out on the North Kent Marshes, as I have said before I love the wildness of the place although at times with the cold and cutting constant wind I have cursed it.

Over the winters we have seen some of the rarer birds out there, Rough Legged Buzzard, male Hen Harrier, Lapland and Snow Buntings, Shore Lark, around 4 Richards Pipit, Great Grey Shrike and Woodlark. Good birds to see anywhere, male Hen Harriers are always magical and memorable seeing one for me, just a pity they are such a rarity these days due to the relentless persecution.

In the March finishing surveys we were also lucky enough to catch up with a couple of early spring migrants moving through, Wheatear and Little Ringed Plover, also an early single calling Yellow Wagtail was seen on the last survey.

Corn Bunting

Initially thought this was White Wagtail with sharp border but settled for Pied.

Always great to see in the Spring - Wheatear

On the last high tide survey the Curlew roost hit 107 and I had the most Avocets at roost I have seen for quite a while – 330, good numbers.

Also a nice 2nd summer male Marsh Harrier with what looks like Marsh Frog legs hanging down as prey.

Marsh Harrier

Like many others I have started to do a window list, more on that later.

NHS - Battersea Power Station

In these troubling times and seeing what is happening all across the UK and the world, life has changed and suddenly become dangerous. The easy part is ours having to stay home, my respect and admiration goes out to the NHS having to deal with this front line.

They are the ones bearing the brunt of this, especially in many cases, not having the proper protection and knowing the threat is far greater in communication with patients.

As I said my gratitude for each and every one of them working for the NHS is immense, can you imagine going to work into this environment every day as they do?

They need our support just by staying home.

On a lighter note I have been keeping an eye on the cameras at Battersea Power Station, they are going well, 3 eggs so far, the Falcon is approaching 10,quite old in peregrine terms so it may well be the extent of the clutch.

However she has surprised me since her arrival in 2012 with large clutches, 3 lots of 5 eggs so I will keep an open mind on it.

Before we went into lock down, we had another intruding Tiercel at the Power Station, an adult, eventually seen off by the resident male but quite a tussle at times. No injuries thankfully to either bird, I know the damage the talons can do.

I have seen a number of intruders over the years, I have to say this particular one was a very determined individual and pressed his case quite extensively, he came back at least 3 times before finally getting the message.

Stop Press - she has laid a 4th egg!

Beckton Sewage Works

Now fast approaching and in some cases already breeding, Spring is more or less here, the winter migrants like Teal and Redshank are fast reducing as the breeding urge kicks in. Lots of display and courtship battles already taking place amongst both species, Shelduck is another that has ongoing battles for females amongst the males.

Many Shelduck are already paired, nest sites as you know are usually Rabbit holes and such like, many Brownfield sites next to the Thames that hold Rabbits are fast disappearing in East London as the land gets eaten up under development. My old stomping grounds of Barking Bay is a prime example, the Shelduck used to nest in burrows in good numbers quite a way from the Thames and then walk the Ducklings down to the water. With the land disappearing under Brick and Mortar, nest sites will disappear, hence another Inner Thames breeder reducing. It’s little wonder with no mitigation, purpose built Shelduck Banks would be a good start all along the Thames.

Elsewhere on the Sewage Works the Kestrels are fast approaching egg laying as you will see from the photos, as with Peregrines multiple copulation's right up to egg laying.

The Iceland Gull as of March 18th was still present along with the Stonechat, the Common Buzzards however seem to have moved on to pastures new.


Stay safe everyone in these difficult times.

Parliament

Hi, it’s been quite hard in the last month or so to get some decent weather to catch up on the pair, I at last got in a visit on Saturday March 7th, not the hoped for blue skies but a bit overcast after a promising sunrise.

Nice sunrise but didn't last

When I arrived in Victoria Gardens Park in semi darkness, I could see the Falcon straight away roosting right next to the nest box, a good sign, after a short while she then entered the box before re emerging 3 minutes later. The Tiercel then materialised on a fly by and both then headed over to Westminster Abbey, had a walk round but could not locate either bird.

However with her roosting near and entering the box, it is pointing in the right direction for breeding hopefully, as we get closer she will spend much of her time close or in the box with the Tiercel undertaking the hunting.

I settled down to wait in the Park and eventually after an hour or so spied them on the Abbey, walking round found her on the Methodist Hall with the Tiercel back on Victoria Palace. Both looked like they had fed a little, a couple of sorties after by the Tiercel but half hearted.

Methodist Hall - one of the buildings they use

Falcon

Tiercel

Tiercel

Tiercel just about be seen

With more stability after last year, hopefully she will start spending more time round the nest box, normal laying is any time from now onwards for London. We will see what transpires in the next couple of weeks.

Fingers crossed for breeding and stay safe people, certainly worrying times.