Battersea Power Station - mid April

 

Sadly it looks like the Falcon’s advanced year’s – 12+ have put paid to breeding this year, the writing was on the wall in 2022, with 2 infertile eggs laid quite late. Despite numerous displays to each other to date, egg scraping and multiple copulation, age it seems has finally caught up.

It is a shame, as both have totally accepted the new nest box head on, situated in the north east wash tower, it is used daily by the Falcon for an afternoon nap. As above pair bonding is still constant but now approaching mid-April, it is looking very unlikely for egg laying.

It now remains how long will she hang on, non-breeding at Battersea occurred during the years of 2008 to 2012, 5 breeding seasons before the current Falcon ousted her. During those years there was nowhere near the density what we have currently of single immatures and adults. These days, there are so many waiting in the wings in and around London and the outer counties, the challenge on prime sites is constant, not just in the run up to breeding when the urge to pair/breed really kicks in.

                                                                      Still copulating

                                    Both Grey and Pied Wagtail also breed at the Power Station

                                               Tiercel arriving with Ring Necked Parakeet

This Falcon’s record has been very good as you can see from below.

Considering 2013 was the start of the Construction Phase, the mitigation to keep them breeding on site, by Battersea Power Station Development Company, was quite incredible. The pair accepted the new tower designed for them showing their tenacity, resilience and total bond to the Power Station come what may.

2013 - 2 juveniles - Southwest Wash Tower
2014 - 3 juveniles - Nest Tower
2015 - 4 juveniles - Nest Tower
2016 - 4 juveniles - Nest Tower
2017 - 4 juveniles - Nest Tower
2018 - 1 juvenile - Nest Tower – New Tiercel
2019 - 4 chicks but all were spiked by long staying 2018 juvenile/immature sadly
2020 - 1 juvenile - Nest Tower -
2021 - 3 juveniles - Nest Tower
2022 - 2 eggs but sadly infertile

22 juveniles over the construction phase, at one time boasting 21 Luffer Cranes and everyone one of them used by the Peregrines, quite an incredible species.

Beckton Sewage Works

 

Early April



It seems the Ravens have disappeared, after starting to build a nest on one of the big pylons in March, I haven’t seen either bird since. However, it is a good sign that they are expanding their range and hopefully they will succeed elsewhere.

Its looking good again for the Kestrels, the box has been in situ since 2018 and has been used every year since, it makes this their 6th year. They had bred in the pipe beforehand and were in danger of getting steamed from the overflow, hence the nest box.

She is becoming tied to the nest box and usual egg laying is usually late April, however as with peregrine laying nowadays and global warming, it could well be earlier.

Recently I am only seeing one of the Common Buzzards, they lay mid-April so it could be that it is just the male that is viewable, and she is sticking close to the nest, wherever it may be. For a big Raptor, they can be surprisingly elusive, I like to think I know where all the suitable trees are and all the old corvid nests, at the moment I haven’t got a clue where she is.

Migrants have started to arrive, on Good Friday returning Willow/Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat and Blackcap were all heard, good to know summer is on its way.

No Common Terns as yet showing on the Thames, just a matter of days I suspect before they start appearing at the Outfall, surprisingly no Sand Martins either over the Sewage Works. The little Martins have a small breeding colony, in the banks further up the Creek, they forage regularly over the Works.

Ring Necked Parakeets have again appeared in numbers, around 40 odd, the annual invasion timed perfectly with budding tree leave’s/fruit. Around 3 pairs breed on site of this invasive bird, which is very detrimental to our native species, even the Green Woodpeckers have disappeared from site which may be linked to them.

 

 

 

 

Parliament March

 

I visited on Monday March 27th to catch up on them, not surprisingly given the weather of late, last Sundays proposed visit was a wash out. Monday was a better dawn and I located both on arrival, I also wanted to check on the new nest site.

As yet, as of 27th, they hadn’t laid and whilst I watched them, there was no activity around the new nest site, hopefully it will come. However they copulated a couple of times so the intent is there, it could be that a position has already been decided on. Full incubation usually starts on 3 eggs, with copulation ongoing and non-incubation by either bird, it is entirely possible that they could have laid 1 or 2 eggs somewhere, however there was no indication Monday morning. Time will tell.

As with many other sites that I have been visiting in March, an intruding Peregrine turned up, a Tiercel by size and tail length, high up both residents called and watched it intently whilst it circled Parliament aloft.

Eventually it was too much for the resident Tiercel, and he circled and climbed relentlessly before seeing off the rival.

                                                                 About to copulate

                                                                           Falcon

                                                       Spotted the Tiercel with prey

                                                           Falcon arriving to take prey

                                                                         Intruder!

                                                  Shortish Tail and Wings, likely a male

I will visit again soon, by then I should have the nest position, wherever it may be.

Battersea March Latest

 

A good visit last Sunday and a great dawn when I arrived around 5.45a.m which soon became quite an eventful visit.

Both Peregrines got the jump on me and had already left roost and had taken a Northern chimney apiece, body activity showed the urge to hunt, even from the Falcon with consistent head bobbing and turning. Eventually the Tiercel flew strongly South with the Falcon shortly after flying and climbing high East. As I tracked her with Bins, another bird eventually came into view, and I then lost her.

A short while later she returned back, laden down with prey, which remarkably turned out to be an unfortunate Woodcock.

These are on the prey list for the Power Station, currently standing at 46 species recorded on the cameras, they are a weak flying nocturnal species which normally move around at night. This bird sadly was flying in daylight across London, no doubt looking for somewhere to drop down to spend the day hidden.

After feeding and then caching the prey, the Tiercel then returned, both then copulated, no eggs as yet. As the morning moved on, I saw the pair come together, obviously agitated, and looking towards the heavens. My eyes are nowhere near as good as theirs, it took me a couple of minutes to eventually locate a 'dot' in the sky which materialised into an intruding female Peregrine as it got slightly lower. Far too high for them to waste energy going up to challenge it, they both watched it intently calling for all they were worth as it drifted off North. Intruding Peregrines are the norm in the run up to breeding as singles look for their own territory, or to challenge an established pairing.

Both then settled down, but before too long a small flock of Feral Pigeons turned up, around a dozen birds heading for the Refuse Centre from across the river to feed. Despite having cached prey, visually it was too much for the Peregrines who simultaneously went for them. There then ensued scattering pigeons all over the Northern Park, some just above my head as both peregrines pursued them. I actually the heard noise from her wings as she changed direction as she was so low, trying to follow them both with the camera tied myself up in knots but I got a few shots.

Spectacular stuff.

                                                            Cached Black Headed Gull

                                                                      Copulation

                                                                          Falcon

                                                               Falcon after a Pigeon

                                                          On her favoured feeding ledge

                                                            Unfortunate Woodcock

                                                                 Watching the intruder

                                                                          Tiercel

Elsewhere on site, breeding behaviour is also increasing for the smaller birds with a number of species becoming really active towards breeding.

The Roof Gardens again proved their attraction, with singing Black Redstart, Robin, Wren, Wood Pigeon, Chiffchaff and no less than 14 Goldfinches gracing the Birches!

I watched the Black Redstart for a little while, its early days, he is not singing from just one position, he is flying to different areas, even to Phase 3 to make sure he covers all the site. It’s likely that he has not got a female as yet.

The Goldfinches I could see were also flying up to the Sedum Roof's to forage, fantastic to see not just this many, but that all these habitats are working and have attracted a number of foraging species already.

                                                                        Goldfinch

Both species of Wagtail, Grey and Pied are still sorting themselves out on the river wall, it's looking like 2 pairs of Greys and one of Pied.