We’ve had everything but peregrine chicks at the watch site today. From blue tit chicks calling in the nest box, a recently fledged wren on the shed roof and baby mice, which I’m told are call pups, believe it or not, nipping in and out the log while. Bravely nibbling on scraps of food dropped by visiting school children and I suspect some of the volunteers may have been making the odd crumb or two as well.

I managed to get a quick video of one of the adult blue tits flying in and out of the box. If you look carefully you can see the adult carrying away the fecal sac for disposal,  as he leaves the nest box. A fecal sac is essentially a the hard membrane in which chicks of several “garden” birds species, do their toilet. I like to think of it as an eco friendly disposable toilet carrier bag.

The peregrines meanwhile have been back in courtship mode, display 3 times yesterday and rest in the lovely sunshine in between displays.

In other everything but peregrine chicks news, one of the volunteers sent me this very interesting link from our cornish peregrine cousins in South West England. Last weeks blog revealed one of theirs study pairs had broken all the rules and started to feed, along with this years eyasses, a returning tiercel from the previous year. But this week discovery really surprised me, its seems a neighboring falcon has taken it upon herself to feed, wait for it,  herring gulls chicks! Click link and scroll down for video evidence on both blogs.

Tomorrow is the last day of this years peregrine watch. Ill let you know what joys it brings.

Adam Murphy – Peregrine Ranger