I have started to use audio on the blog recently and today I recorded the comings and goings from the nest territory as some interesting behaviour took place, listen above. I use the word territory because the young peregrines have now fledged the nest ledge. It has been an incredibly interesting day and I have a tale to tell. Listen to the audio and also watch the movie but here's a summary of proceedings. When I arrived it was quiet but I quickly located one of the 3 youngsters. It was exactly where it had been yesterday, beneath the nest ledge and about 10 feet to the left.   All 3 youngsters had vacated the nest and finished up here, but yesterday and today, only one remained. It wasn't long before I heard the familiar sound of a calling peregrine and this went on for a while with the youngster chipping in to answer. I felt absolutely sure that prey was going to be brought to the youngster and after the calling had gone on for at least 15 minutes it rose to a deafening crescendo as the adult falcon flew in with a magpie. The screaming was very loud because accompanying the adult was the young tercel!  The magpie was duly fed to both young birds and after a short while the young tercel flew away strongly. This was the first time that I had seen any of the the youngsters fly and it was brilliant to see how adept he was, flying like a skilled adult already. He is no doubt, enjoying his new found freedom to fly where he likes. After the feeding had gone on for 10 minutes or so, the falcon attempted to take the prey away from the youngster but the baby peregrine was having none of that and a tug of war ensued with the both birds pulling as hard as they could from either end of the carcass. I filmed this with much excitement. The female gave up and left the young one to it.  She landed in her favourite spot in the old oak and remained there for a while. Then I saw that the other young female was also in the tree, meaning that I had located all 3 youngsters and glad to see them safe.  The youngster was right next to the other hide so I waited until the adult had left the tree and then went to take up a position there  in the hope of a close up of the youngster. I waited and waited, in fact for 3 hours and I could hear the youngster calling now and then.  Eventually the young bird moved on to the exact spot where I had the camera focused and with very little difficulty, recorded video and took photos of the young falcon.  The excitement continued as an adult arrived to feed it and they both flew off, adult and youngster.  No doubt the youngster took delivery of prey, seconds later the adult tercel was on the branch again but I couldn't photograph him this time though.  What an absolutely superb day.

Here's the 43 day old youngster.