KEEN twitchers can watch Leamington’s very own peregrine chicks on webcam.
Four peregrine chicks have hatched in a nest on top of Leamington Town Hall. A breeding pair set up home in a box provided by Warwick District Council in 2017 and have been producing young annually since.
Webcams put up by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust have been catching all the action – from the egg laying to the feeding, and will also catch the moment when the chicks are old enough to fledge.
Peregrines are among the fastest animals on the planet, reaching speeds of up to 200 miles per hour when diving down on their prey from a great height.
Until recently, the peregrine falcon was only found in the north and west of the UK. But over the last couple of decades they have been spreading south.
In recent years they have found some unusual nest sites including the Grade II listed town hall in Leamington. These tall, urban structures replicate the cliff edges that peregrines would naturally nest on.
Like many birds of prey, the peregrine falcon was so persecuted numbers fell dramatically. Thankfully, this super-speedy flyer is now making a comeback, particularly in towns, where it nests on tall buildings.
The peregrine is the UK’s biggest falcon. It is dark slate-grey above and white below, with black bars across its chest and belly. It has a white throat and cheeks and a strong, black moustache and mask.
The four eggs laid at Leamington Town Hall hatched over two days from April 26 to April 27 and there are three males and one female.
The webcams can be viewed at www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/peregrine
