Tag Archives: raptors

Peregrine in Residence at Old Moor

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Francis Hickenbottom

Exciting news in recent weeks has been the identification of a peregrine that has taken up residence at RSPB Old Moor as PAA – a female from this year’s Wakefield Cathedral brood. Young peregrines don’t breed until two or three … Continue reading →

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Peregrine Casualty

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

Unfortunately, one of this year’s young peregrines died earlier this week following a collision with a building. The female PCA was found near Sainsburys, Ings Road and was cared for by Jean Thorpe, of Ryedale Wildlife Rehabilitation. PCA was examined … Continue reading →

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Peregrine Ringing, 2017

Posted on May 28, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

A big event on the peregrine calendar is the ringing of the peregrine chicks. This year’s ringing took place on Saturday, 27th May, when the youngsters were three weeks and four days old. The youngsters were collected from the nestbox … Continue reading →

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Peregrine Chicks, 2017

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

The peregrines on Wakefield Cathedral have been incubating four eggs for almost five weeks. The first hatching was expected on Tuesday, 2nd May, 34 days after the laying of the third egg. On Tuesday afternoon, it was clear that something … Continue reading →

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Peregrine Update

Posted on April 16, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

This year’s clutch was completed with the laying of a fourth egg just after 3 a.m. on 1st April. The birds have, therefore, been incubating for a little over two weeks and they are well into their usual routine. The … Continue reading →

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First Peregrine Egg of 2017

Posted on March 25, 2017 by Francis Hickenbottom

The peregrines remained on the cathedral throughout the winter, holding onto their nest site and chasing away intruders regularly. They have spent recent weeks preparing to breed by carrying out ledge displays and making a nest scrape. Last year’s first … Continue reading →

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Juvenile Peregrines

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

The young peregrines are now roaming quite freely and there was a report, two days ago, of a juvenile seen chasing a black-headed gull at Wintersett, This could well have been a Wakefield bird. Although the juveniles are spending increasing … Continue reading →

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The Early Bird Catches the Worm

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

Arriving in Wakefield shortly after 5 a.m., I was just in time to see the female peregrine circling above the precinct with prey in her talons. I did not get there early enough to see whether the male had brought … Continue reading →

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Ten Days to Hatching

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

With approximately ten days of incubation remaining, it is interesting to see a change in the behaviour of the male peregrine. During the first three two weeks of incubation, he stopped bringing food to the box. However, in recent days he … Continue reading →

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Peregrines tread carefully.

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Francis Hickenbottom

Peregrines are equipped with sharp talons and they can, occasionally, cause damage to an egg as they step into or out of the nest scrape. To reduce the chance of this happening, the birds move very carefully , particularly when … Continue reading →

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