All is well with the peregrines. We watched a changeover yesterday in mid-afternoon, which was the first real action all day and gave some visitors a really good view of the off-duty bird sitting nearby.
The nesting site is concealed behind a hedge of heather on a high ledge, so most sightings are only glimpses of tail and wingtips as the incubating parent shifts on the eggs. There will be more to see soon, when the eggs hatch and the parents start to bring in food items to the chicks on the ledge. Estimates of the hatching date vary, but a few days either side of 31st May seems most likely. Not long now!
Otherwise, despite the inactivity, peregrine watching has its moments. The siskins have found our feeder, which is some consolation for visiting photographers, and there is a fat vole that rushes out and chases them away from the spillage every few minutes. Our visitors are all lovely people - no exceptions yet - including hotel guests, holidaymakers, round-the-lake cyclists, some very well-behaved schoolchildren from Shrewsbury, a celebrity tv commentator's mother, and a party of bikers from Northwich yesterday who mostly didn't get to see the peregrines except for one lady who did, which almost caused a divorce! Graham (TheCatInTheHat)
Are you a member of the RSPB? Nature is amazing, help us keep it that way. To join contact me on roger.whiteway@rspb.org.uk