Peregrine Falcons in Lincolnshire
Lincoln Cathedral is not the only Lincolnshire landmark to play host to the beautiful peregrine falcon…
No sir! Despite recently hearing about two peregrine falcons and their young making their home in the beautiful Cathedral I have yet to have a look for them there myself. Instead I was too busy watching another two peregrine’s at the old sugar beet factory at Bardney. Having given up on photographing any barn owls that day I began to head home until I saw the colossal wing span of these amazing birds swooping across the early evening skyline.
I did photograph them but they were too far away, I knew it whilst I rattled off thirty or forty frames but you never know your luck at this game. Sadly, the factory is now closed and there are warning signs all around the perimeter so I couldn’t venture any closer for a better shot. Not that I really minded, seeing them in flight is quite awesome, almost regal. They are not usually found in this part of England so their prescence in the county has caused quite a stir. I would dearly love to see more peregrine’s around here, there are plenty of good places for them to hunt and to nest undisturbed (I hope)
But do you know the real reason why I’d love to see more of them? They feed on pigeons!!!
Miles,
It must have been a good day to be out and about here in the Shire… pity the falcon didn’t venture closer but at least you were able to see it in flight. I can’t tell a falcon from a hawk….. but I can tell you that once I spent several hours in the company of a Wandering Albatross…. at the time I didn’t have a good camera which I’ve regretted ever since. When something the size of a gun dog with huge wings glides past within a couple of metres, it’s a real thrill.
Judging by the pigeon population around my area, we can’t have any falcons….. perhaps I could whittle one out of a milk carton as a deterrent?
Cid
May 30, 2009 @ 12:14 am
Next time you go to the Lake District why not try the Falconry Centre.
I forget exactly where it is but I remenber seeing it every time I was up there.
Could be some fantastic photo ops
Rod
May 30, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
Cid,
They are amazing to watch, the RSPB are monitoring their breeding at the Cathedral, it would be great to think that they will establish themselves in the county.
Miles
May 30, 2009 @ 10:18 pm
Rod,
Great idea, a question of time at the moment
I did come across a birds of prey centre, I think it was further north if memory serves me right.
Miles
May 30, 2009 @ 10:19 pm
Miles,
Think I spotted an RSPB stand at the Cathedral but didn’t have time to stop and look, presumably the gathering of people were there to see the falcons, it all makes sense now. Mind you, there aren’t many wandering albatross (albatri?
) in the Shire…. that’s no doubt because of the lack of a decent fish monger. It’s a great shame because I’d love to have one as a sort of visiting pet…. he’d be about 4′ tall in his webbed feet and cause such a stir among the locals and day trippers. Best not to mention what he might do to their cars though…. any feathered friend of mine would be well trained of course and fully proficient at using the outside toilet facilities complete with flushing loo and hair drier 
Isn’t there a bird of prey centre near Langworth? At least you could get up close and inspect the plumage.
Cid
May 30, 2009 @ 11:05 pm
Cid,
At Langworth? Will have to look into that, thanks ( I hope!)
Miles
May 30, 2009 @ 11:08 pm
Falcons are lovely, aren’t they Miles!
I remember years ago - in the 1980s - when I was working in Manhattan at a hospital on the East River - peregrines had started to take up residence on some of the skyscrapers. On the main hospital building we had a nesting pair and it was quite a sight to see the white coats hanging out the windows to drop mice into the general direction of the nest.
The return of once near-vanished species is a wonderful thing - and a good indicator that environmental policies are working. We regualrly see bald eagles off the Potomac these days. It was a very different situation when I was growing up when they were so threatened by DDT. Enjoy your owls and falcons and whatever else your environment offers!
June 1, 2009 @ 12:01 am
Laura,
That’s a great story-I wish I could have seen that!
You mentioned eagles, it is a great shame that there are so few remaining in the UK and those are now confined to the outer reaches of our rugged countryside.
Miles
June 1, 2009 @ 9:11 am
hi miles its great to hear you’ve spotted these peregrines my favourite bird. have you had anymore sightings of these birds recently as i’d love to come to bardney and also visit your lime woods to kind regards simon
July 13, 2009 @ 12:42 pm
Simon,
Welcome to the site and thank you for your comment, I haven’t seen them for a while unfortunately but if I see them this blog will be the first to know!!
Miles
July 13, 2009 @ 8:46 pm