Cooling Marshes

 

July



I was fortunate enough to squeeze in a couple of visits in July, if I had more spare time, it would be a couple of visits a week, the place is magical.

On both visits, like others, I am now seeing lots of Cattle Egrets, they are absolutely everywhere, the numbers leaving roost at dawn and gracing the Marsh were easily 40+, if anything even higher.

Hard to imagine just a few years back this was a rare bird, now colonising much of the South which is fantastic.

Corn Buntings are starting to flock, and at least 9 of them together on the track down, hopefully it shouldn’t be too long before the Wheatears arrive.

A bit early for any wintering Raptors, but ever-present Marsh Harriers were seen quartering the fields and a couple of Common Buzzards were spotted sitting out on the Marsh posts.

On the 2nd visit I had a look round for some Dragons, caught up with the usual but also saw Southern Migrant Hawker, and what I think is Scarce Emerald Damselfly although would welcome any input.

 

Battersea Power Station

 

July



Unfortunate news on the Peregrines, sad to say that the male Peregrine has gone I'm afraid, after not seeing him in May, June and now July, I thought I could just be missing him. However, having now checked all the footage thoroughly, over the last few months, the last time he showed on camera was April 30th at 19.15p.m.

He is regular at entering the nestbox and displaying to the female, this is normal behaviour for him, even late in breeding, for him not to do this as per normal and deter from normal regular behaviour, means that he is simply not present.

The Falcon is taking her own prey on all my visits over the last couple of months, if the Tiercel was around, he would be there in a flash putting her under pressure for the scraps.

What could have happened?

The City can be a dangerous place for Peregrines, even experienced adults, so many pitfalls are present. Taken out/injured by another Peregrine after encroaching on another territory, entrapment, glass balconies for one, window strike on sunny days, nocturnal collision, netting - the list goes on.

It's also entirely possible that it could be 'natural,' although they pair for life, change will obviously happen at some time.

In terms of age, the male arrived as an adult in September 2019, unringed, this meant that he was a minimum of 7 years old.

Ironically, I always thought that the ringed female at 14/15 years of age, would have been long replaced by now over the last couple of years.

On my visit, she took prey early a.m, a Feral Pigeon from the Refuse Centre, after feeding she then rested up with a bulging crop on the exterior ledge.

                                                       Always watching - feeding ledge

                                                              Goldfinch on the feeders

                                                         September 2019 - new Tiercel

                                                                       Stuffed

Having checked the camera thoroughly for the Tiercel, it also came to light just how much she rests up in the nest box, afternoon naps are regular as is overnight roosting. No doubt the nap is possibly age related, being an older bird, I know how she feels now being in my senior years!

Elsewhere, the usual species were recorded, not so many as usual, 5 Swifts overhead, already heading for Africa it seems.



No song or any sign of any of the Black Redstarts.

Battersea Power Station

 

June 19th




Lots of broods of young birds around, especially juvenile Goldfinches and Blue/Great Tits, I would suspect using the nest boxes around the Estate. All will be revealed when I check them in the late Autumn.
Good also to see Grey Wagtail young along the river with a singing Wren nearby, usually pretty skulky, this one was out on show going for it.

The male Black Redstart was heard singing early a.m around Switch House East Gardens, it was later seen dropping down to the Phase 3 area.

A male Sparrowhawk was also seen ghosting through the trees.

I finished the morning on 28 species, with the coming of the Autumn we should get a few more migrants going through.

In regard to the Peregrines, despite arriving early a.m, I didn't see one for quite a while on this visit, the Falcon eventually arriving.

I am expecting the female to change, at a minimum of 14/15 years of age, likely more, she is holding on well. However, having looked at the recorded camera footage, there is now no sign of the Tiercel in all of June, only the Falcon. He doesn’t access the nest box as much as the female, but he often does display to her regularly even this late in breeding.

Hopefully better news on the Peregrines in July, will the male show, the female at 14+, just how long can she hang on?

She arrived in the winter of 2011/2012 as an adult, she is ringed and has certain facial characteristics, so I know there has been no change.

Having last bred in 2021, we will see what 2026 brings.

Knowing how much established pairs often get challenged and checked out by intruders, especially in London, with its density of single peregrines on the outskirts and outer counties, she has done a remarkable job hanging on this long.

Kestrels - Sparrowhawk

The last and latest of the Kestrels were ringed last week by Shaun, 5 chicks in all, as before it’s been a bit of a barmy year, 2 nest sites were a month behind compared to 2024 ringing.

One pair adopted a Barn Owl box after seemingly ousting the male Barn Owl from the roost box, due to them laying late, it seems they lost their own Kestrel Box to a pair of Stock Doves. Out of sync, possibly weather related, they then laid later, unable presumably to oust the Stock Doves, as there 2 young were to far advanced, so they then set their eyes on the Barn Owl Box.

The 2nd pair of Kestrels were again a month behind and Shaun again ringed these, 2 chicks again more or less the same size as the others, hardly any difference between both broods.

                                                         2 of the 3 in the Barn Owl Box

                                                                 Fingers crossed for her

I also picked up a female Sparrowhawk on Thursday, she had flown into glass it seems and has sustained a fractured right wing. She is in the best hands with Sue and Tom at the Wildlife Hospital, but at least 4 weeks before she can hopefully be returned.

Lots on the Peregrine front but will post later on this.