Leeds Peregrine

certificate18 · #1 (**permalink**) 24-03-2009, 04:47 PM

[Continued from the "Leeds Sparrowhawk?" thread, as discussion there has moved onto Peregrines. See Leeds Sparrowhawk?

A few members (including myself) have reported a pair of Peregrines in Leeds City Centre, near the Town Hall and the railway station.

If these falcons are Peregrines and not large city-variety Kestrels, I've now seen them 3 times since mid January 2009, all from my office window 100mtrs from the railway station along Whitehall Road, adjacent to the river. I've observed the pair mating on top of a nearby residential block. Unfortunately however, I've not had binoculars with me so as yet I cannot confirm species.

I shall take my binoculars to work tomorrow & hopefully spot them again soon.

diggleken · #2 (**permalink**) 24-03-2009, 05:02 PM

Hi C18, it wouldnt surprise me in the least - they have been colonising cities with Pigeons for years - Manchester for example, not too different from just over the Pennines.
Seen them there for at least 10 years.
You should be able to tell from the behaviour and jizz, plus in a few weeks some calling from the adults and fledged young if you know a nest site. Look it up on the RSPB site for an idea what the noise is - its a quite distinctive repeated keee keee kee (sort of!).

Cheers
Ken

Northumbrian bir · #3 (**permalink**) 24-03-2009, 07:28 PM

Not commonly known, but there are a few peregrines in Newcastle city centre too- they have put up a few nesting boxes this year- one day they may be obvious!
Becoming city centre regulars now!

nigel_b · #4 (**permalink**) 25-03-2009, 10:42 AM

I dont know if we're supposed to post links out to other sites but there's a pair at the House of Commons now. A quick google will reveal more.

Northumbrian bir · #5 (**permalink**) 25-03-2009, 07:25 PM

I think the house of commons site will be pretty safe nigel!
The sites in Newcastle are safe too but out of respect for those putting work into promoting them(nesting) im not at liberty to say exactly where.

westpoint · #6 (**permalink**) 30-03-2009, 07:04 PM

I thought the Peregrines in Leeds were my little secret.

I live in the flats overlooking the station, and I see them almost daily. We're often treated to some classic high speed hunting too. I just watched one go past the window, which is why I decided to Google it to find out if anyone else watches them.

The station area is perfect for them. Hundreds of pigeons roost in the tunnels under the station, and they're easy pickings for the Peregrines. I've also seen them circling high above the City Hall, and I'm pretty sure that's the area they're nesting in.

I used to live out near Headingley Station, and that's where I saw my first Peregrine in Leeds. I was having a lie-in one Saturday morning and was gazing up through the skylight from my bed when I saw a Peregrine in a dive. I've seen them on and off ever since, but now I've moved into the city, like I say, I see them literally most days. I have a great view from my flat..

I'm a photographer, so I'll get a few snaps of them now the nights are pulling out. I'll put them up here when I've got them.

They're definitely Peregrines.

certificate18 · #7 (**permalink**) 27-04-2009, 11:41 AM

I've seen these again a few times, always from my office window (Whitehall Road, facing Northern Street). I saw one on 17/04/09 at a distance, and kept it in sight for several seconds, but each time I tried to lift my binoculars I lost sight of it!

However, I've seen one again this morning, again with the naked eye only, but at a distance of under 10m. Although it was silhouetted against a grey sky, so its markings were unclear, I'm sure it was too large to be a Kestrel. Although of course some Peregrines are of comparable size to some Kestrels (eg 34-39cm length, 80-82cm wingspan), this was larger than any Kestrel I've ever seen. I'd estimate wingspan was over 1m, approximately Rook-sized.

I've now seen these falcons on at least 5 occasions during 2009. I even observed them mating atop a nearby tall apartment block a few weeks ago. Unfortunately though I've still not caught them in binoculars! When I do, I'll post again - hopefully then I'll be able to properly confirm that this is a breeding pair of Peregrines in central Leeds.

certificate18 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-02-2010, 03:31 PM

Sighted once again from my office window. Again I only got to see it with the naked eye - I had a pair of binoculars in my desk drawer but wasn't able to get them out quickly enough.

But the bird was definitely a Peregrine. Very distinctive head markings seen this time. And as I've reported before, I've witnessed these birds mating on a nearby rooftop (I didn't have binoculars with me that day) so I have to assume they're a resident pair.