The breeding season is winding down. This year’s fledglings are now on the wing, learning the essential skills they’ll need to survive to independence. We have yet to collate the results for the greater London area, but we’re pleased to report on a successful season for some of our better known pairs.

The Tate pair fledged two young. From this weekend you have the opportunity to see the birds through telescopes at the RSPB viewing point.

The Parliament peregrines (as seen on the RSPB/BT webcam and Springwatch) bred again, fledging three young. The family can now be seen around Houses of Parliament in Westminster.

A pair in Fulham and Barnes fledged three young—the first successful attempt at the site—though not without a bit of drama. You can read a full account of events on the Fulham and Barnes Peregrines Facebook page set up by Nathalie Mahieu.

In Sutton a pair bred again on an office block by the train station, fledging four young. This site was monitored by local volunteers organized by Rob Dolton and advised by the LPP. Sutton Peregrines are also on Facebook.

Thanks to everyone who gave up their time to help the birds this year.

The Tate and Parliament pairs both have young ready to fledge. To the South, volunteers will be on hand to monitor the fledging of the four chicks in Sutton. Phil Wallace has posted video and photographs of the chicks and adult birds on his blog: Sutton peregrines nearly ready to fledge!

Speaking of the weather, Nathalie has an interesting blog post describing the aquatic adventures of the chicks in Fulham and Barnes.

Update: The Sutton Peregrines now have their own Facebook page.

The Parliament birds have returned to the ledge on a nearby building where they raised four chicks last year (not the BT Tower, as reported elsewhere). Earlier this year the nesting tray we installed with help from the RSPB and BT was cleaned out and topped up in preparation for another season. The webcam is up and running and you can read updates about the pair on Dave Morrison’s Parliament Diary.

Misty is extending her record of successive breeding in central London. Meanwhile Rob Dolton is organizing volunteers to help monitor this year’s fledglings in Sutton.

Last but not least, we’re pleased to report that the pair which are regular visitors to WWT London have laid three eggs (and counting) which they should soon begin incubating, thanks largely to the efforts of Dave Morrison and Nathalie Mahieu. Nathalie has set up a blog where you can follow their story: Fulham & Barnes Peregrines.

We can’t be everywhere at once, so at sites like Quadrant House in Sutton we’re looking for local people to volunteer to help keep an eye on the birds. Let us know if you’re based in or near Sutton and think you’d be able to help.

An unsuitable building for a Peregrine nest box © LPP

One significant difference between cliff sites and urban sites is that many buildings do not offer fledgling Peregrines somewhere to perch if they are unable to make it back to the nest ledge. With nothing to perch on the birds will slide down the sheer face of the building or fly to other buildings nearby, desperately trying to find a perch. In this situation fledglings can quickly find themselves on the ground where they are extremely vulnerable.

A suitable building for a Peregrine nest box © LPP

Therefore only buildings with ledges or other niches where fledglings can perch make suitable locations for nest boxes.

Potential nest sites should also be assessed in terms of security and proximity to existing Peregrine territories. Please get in touch if you’d like more advice on this process.