A Couple of Hours with the Peregrine Falcons at St Albans Cathedral

18th July 2025

A pair of Peregrine Falcons have been around St Albans Cathedral for several years, but it was in 2022 they nested for the first time on a nest tray installed on the roof. Sadly this year someone gained access to the roof and trod on the eggs, a crime that is currently being investigated by the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service. Luckily it was early enough in the season for them to lay again and now they have three chicks, all males. The chicks aren't flying just yet but can flutter up the roof, so time for a visit.

Here are a series of shots of the young birds. Young birds can be identified by their course striations running down a dark breast, whereas on adults the striations are much finer and run across a white breast.

Each chick is ringed with a colour ring with large lettering which can be read without re-capture.

There was lots of wing-flapping and scurrying along the parapet, no flying just yet, but probably only a few days away.

The adults, Albon and Boudica had brought in food for the chicks earlier in the day so were spending their time just sitting around.

But I did manage to anticipate when one of the adults took to the air and grabbed a few flight shots.

Well what a great morning with the Peregrines accompanied by an all-star cast of Andy, Rose and Dave, Big Kev, Sh4rpy, Ian, Michael, Sandra and Kevin Stanbridge and John Cook.