Reading Peregrine

[The Black Rabbit]

I know that Peregrines, more and more are nesting on tall buildings (like art galleries and cathedrals) in the centre of many of our cities - Manchester, London, Exter, Chichester etc...

I live in Reading, half a mile or so due west from the mainline station. I have been watching what I know is a Peregrine, (I've had wonderful, clear views, and a fair amount of 'experience' under my belt), and what I think is an immature(ish) male bird, scaring the bejasus out of all the birds on the tiny recreation ground behind our tiny urban garden.

It always stoops the 'rec' (or as I call it, the 'lek' - as its often full of moorhens, which remind me of my Black Grouse days in Scotland), at around 6am most mornings if the weather is half decent.
The whole of the rec's birdlife leaps into the air, which becomes thick with small wings and alarm calls.

I've seen it quite a few times now - like I say -wonderful views especially as it heads west or south west shortly afterwards (to local gravel pits I assume),to hunt properly. I assume its roosting on a tower block in the centre of town - one has been documented recently on the large building opposite the station.
It shouldn't go hungry - there are Feral Pigeons, Wood pigeons, Stock Doves, Collared Doves, all kinds of garden birds including Bullfinches and Goldfinches, Moorhens from the ditch behind the rec, and the Thames and local gravel pits nearby...

I personally know of Peregrines in Berkshire - They are well documented if you look in the right places, but wondered if anyone else had experienced a bird on their local 'patch' which amazed them as much as this Peregrine has me? I can quite literally sit on a comfy garden recliner in my back garden, with a coffee and a cigarette, and see this bird most mornings! Wonderful!

Reading? On a 'rec' I can run around in 2 minutes?!
Yes! And its a fantastic site!

Ps hope to get some pictures soon... with a wee bit of luck...

Cheers
Doug.

[agrumpycow]

I live in Reading too, by the sounds of it not far from you, and I can't say I've ever seen a Peregrine here. Red Kites, definitely, and yesterday a sparrowhawk which is if the first I've noticed in my garden.
Looking forward to the pics, if you manage to get one!

[demicav]

Sounds wonderful to be able to sit back and watch a peregrine. I'm totally jealous.

[The Black Rabbit]

Hey, grumpy cow. Like I say, this is DEFINITELY a Peregrine. Keep your eyes open, look for the signs (and listen for them), get up early enough, and you will see it!
We get sparrowhawks in the garden very regularly, and I've also seen one hobby fly over from the south.
Guess you will have been inundated (like us) with large numbers of Scarlet Tiger Moths too, which have been everywhere in Reading for the past month or so!
Doug.