Peregrines at 4 weeks old.

I have a Schedule 1. license to photograph at this nest site.

The young Peregrines are 28 days old tomorrow, no longer looking like tiny defenceless chicks but bigger and stronger than ever. I watched one feeding itself like an adult earlier and it's almost incomprehensible to see how they have developed in such a short time. They seem now to have a body bulk at least as large as the tercel and look plump and well nourished. Still predominantly white with down, they have the makings of a proper tale and wings to match. I was incredibly lucky when I arrived, almost immediately, prey was bought to the ledge by the falcon. This time it was a Magpie, this seems to be a large part of the falcon's diet, I have seen 4 as prey now. This kill was an adult, the chicks made short work of consuming it. On this occasion he fed it to them.

The youngsters are now very mobile and move around the ledge quite a lot. There is much wing flapping and preening. After the falcon had fed on the remains of the Magpie she flew to a near edge to digesther meal and there she remained fpr mpre than an hour. I then heard the unmistakable scream call of the tercel. I sighted him quickly on his favourite oak tree, I could clearly see that he had caught a small bird. There was a bit more calling and he flew in to the ledge, delivered the kill and then flew off leaving the the youngsters to feed themselves on the prey item which was a Song Thrush. New behaviour to record here, the male seems to bring food for the chicks to feed themselves with, the falcon, catching larger prey as she does, brings in food and then feeds the youngsters.