Peregrine falcon spot (Lounged)

[anntidote]

Was very excited this morning to see a peregrine falcon perching on the ridge tiles of a house at the back of me (I live at the bottom of Henslowe backing on to Friern). I know they are nesting on the top of Tate Britain but don't know how far they range out from there. Perhaps it was one of last years youngster's and is looking for a home in the suburbs away from Ma and Pa - Dawsons Heights would be a good place for a new peregrine pad! Has anyone else seen it locally? They are quite distinctive - bigger and slimmer in shape to a pigeon, very hooked beak, brown back and head but whitish under chin and cheek patches with pale fawny white breast rippled with brown flecks.

Anntidote

[jimbo1964]

That's exciting. I saw the Tate birds last year (through the RSPBs scopes). I imagine Dawson's heights would be a cracking perch for Brer Falcon.

[Asset]

Friend of mine witnessed a bird of prey ripping a blue tit to shreds in her back garden recently, poss not peregrine though as there are lots of sparrowhawks and kestrels around town too. Maybe the peregrines can keep the parakeet numbers in check.

[Scruffy Mummy]

Will they tackle the mouse problem sweeping ED?

[kentl]

Relieved to hear that the mouse problem isn't just ours, it's reached physcological warefare in our house....!

[TillieTrotter]

I have developed a twitch in my eye due to the little f**kers (seriously). I'm getting to my wits end but still cant bring myself to kill them. Talking about the mice here and not the peregrine falcons of course::o

[Ladygooner]

Just get the traps out and start killing the blighters!

[SteveT]

Well good old peregrine, it's not as if feral pigeons are an endangered species exactly.

In the dead of winter if I put out food for the song birds there will be 20 pigeons around it in as many minutes in my garden. So go it peregrine(s) I say.

[Michael Palaeologus]

This chap was on Goose Green this afternoon - honest.

http://www.northfell.com/portfolio5/images/vulture.jpg

[SteveT]

Did you have a liquid lunch mike?;-)

[dulwichmum]

Darling Antidote,

What colour feathers does the lovely falconette have? Glamorous bird is it? I love eye catching feathers...

[Moos]

Hmm, Dulwichmum, I was wondering why we hadn't seen the kingfisher for a few weeks.... has it been turned into a lovely new stole?

[dulwichmum]

Oh Moos darling, I thought that you would never notice! I have actually had a hat made!

http://www.blissbridal.com.au/images/prods/thumbs/Mini%20Turquoise%20Feather%20Fascinator.JPG.jpg

[Moos]

Oh Dulwichmum, the colour is truly you! I can't believe I didn't see it before! and now I want one so badly.

But do you think you might have overdone the Botox just a teensy bit?

[Administrator]

Lounged

[vivienne]

I saw it in Waveney Ave about a month ago, also ripping mice. I was practicing my diinished chords, i thought I was hallucinating.

[Sue]

Maybe that was what bore away a horribly squealing starling from my garden the other week - it sat in the corner of the garden with its claws in it before flying off.

Are they quite large with sort of speckly breasts? My bird book only shows the peregrine falcon from the back, so it could have been a sparrowhawk ....

[anntidote]

-- moved topic --

[dulwichmum]

Oh Moos, do you really like it?

I sooo hope I haven't overdone the Botox, at least I haven't got one eyebrow floating off up my forehead in the manner of Miss Kylie (I look like I am permanently in a wind tunnel) Minogue!

[SteveT]

Although peregrines feed mainly on pigeons I dont suppose the odd urban falcon would say no to a starter of starling to whet the appetite.

I have seen the sparrowhawk in and around my garden after the blackbird and his wife, but a year ago there was the remains of a pigeon, it looked like a flattened red indian war bonnet. Only a ring of feathers remaining.

Until then, there had been a flock perching on the next door roof, after that they all disappeared to a safer haven.

[Sue]

Pity the flocks of starlings in my garden do not disappear to a safer haven, I might have some smaller and less bullying varieties at the feeders :)

Those beaks !!!! :)