The St Albans Juvenile Peregrines Have Fledged

30th June 2026

At last the juvenile Peregrine Falcons at St Albans Cathedral have fledged, and after a week or so of running round the roof of the Cathedral have taken to the air and have been enjoying their new-found freedom.

As I was walking up to the Cathedral I came to the Fighting Cocks pub, and by the bridge an adult male Grey Wagtail was feeding its three off-spring.

Now at the Cathedral the male Peregrine appeared to have left the site and the female was perched high up in a tree in the shade.

One of  juveniles was perchd lower down in the same tree. The adults have barring going across their breast whereas the juveniles have streaks running down their breast.

The other juveniles were perched on the parapets of the Cathedral.

But why sit around on a parapet when you can enjoy your newly-found airborne freedom?

Well that was fun, but nowhere near as much fun as chasing one of your siblings...............at 60mph!!!!...............

......................and having a dog-fight.

And time for a rest by the St Albans Cathedral flag.

At that pont the male returned but without food.

Well what a fantastic day. I have been photographing these Peregrines for a few years now and although it is a great moment when the chicks fledge, in all those years I have never seen them so active in the air. Also great to share the company of Kevin Garrett, Michael Barrett, Beau Bassich and Kevin and Sandra Stanbridge.