Having visited the (real not the webcam)Nottingham Peregrines on the Newton Building on Thu 10th May and the (real) Lincoln Cathedral Peregrines earlier today (Sat), I thought I'd complete my usual trio of personal visits by going on to see the (real) St. Wulfram's Church, Grantham Peregrines.
As I arrived just after 2.30pm, the tiercel was perched on the side of the steeple. He soon took off and circled higher and higher. Suddenly, he clapped his wings tightly to the sides and went into an amazing 'supersonic' dive towards the Church steeple. Momentarily, he disappeared behind the steeple....a Pigeon shot off to the right and the Peregrine reappeared, perching again on the steeple side, pigeonless !
The live webcam inside the Church, with its super high definition picture, showed the falcon preening on the nesting-tray with an occasional glimpse of one or other of the 3 chicks. A very chatty and helpful lady church volunteer said she had seen the 3 chicks and 1 egg in the nesting-tray earlier in the day. She also informed me that in due course, (later in the year/even next year) some 16 feet of upper steeple will be removed so as to get at some dodgy brickwork below....hence the scaffolding, ladders, etc.
A "Latest Peregrine Newsheet" (dated 11th May) was available next to the webcam screen ...with all the latest news - congratulations to Bob Sheppard for providing the extra info to the visiting public.
A most interesting and enjoyable visit....many thanks to the Grantham Peregrine Project team.
On the way home to BBH, I called in at the Marston STW to check out the Cuckoos again. While in conversation with LBC birder Steve Godson, a Cuckoo flew across in front of us, landed on some sturdy Reedmace...much to the delight of Steve who took some shots of the bird, incl. one with a 'tasty' hairy caterpillar dangling from its beak.
Freddy
PS. I've just noticed Steve's photo.....great shot, Steve.
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