Sunday shoppers were enthralled at the sight of wild peregrines high up on the cathedral during this morning’s peregrine watch organised by Francis. People were actually gasping and squealing with delight as they looked through telescopes for the first time and saw, in stunning detail, the peregrine chicks and both adult birds on the spire.
The oldest of the three chicks appears to be getting ready for fledging and his first set of flight feathers are clearly visible through the soft white down that is falling away in tufts. According to Francis, this bird will be five weeks old this coming weekend and is likely to fledge sometime this week.
If you’ve not been down to see the peregrines, now would be a great time as there is plenty of action as the ever hungry, fast growing chicks are being fed.
Peregrine nestbox Wakefield cathedral
A youngster tests the flight feathers with a wing falp
peregrine Wakefield cathedral
peregrine Wakefield cathedral
Sunday shoppers watch wild peregrines
Observers of the peregrines
The Braide family from Sandal watch the peregrinesd
Wakefield peregrine watch