Peregrine falcon

[skauwt]

peregrine falcons
something you dont seem much of these days in built up areas

this is the 4th year they've cam back to coatbridge im unsure if they nest on the highrise flats or just come here to train the young i think its more to do with training of the young though
but over the years Ive photographed these awesome birds in mid flight and in mid chase something i see as a privilege ...i named the pair "don and beth" these aren't the official names but i figure naming them after the dunbeth area is fitting as thats also the name of the highrise i see them on ,
i managed to contact the local council park ranger to let them know that this species had started coming here a few years ago and they couldnt have been happier to find out the location as apparently they'd been searching for a year or so now they can at least protect one more family
i shall try and gt some images of the young as they hunt in the following weeks and share them with fellow xmarkers
who says you dont see rare species these days i see them from my house




and some data on these beautiful creatures


http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/bird...rine/index.asp

[sydnie7]

Great to see that they are thriving in another urban area! Peregrines have been encouraged in many large U.S. cities, partly as a natural pigeon control force and there are several "peregrine cams" where you can watch them nest and raise their young. Just Google "peregrine camera" for links.

I used to live in the San Fernando Valley, north of Los Angeles (yuck) but near a large flood control/park area. Peregrines nested on the grounds of the nearby electric generating plant and I'd see them fly over occasionally.

Go raptors!

[Jock Scot]

Spectacular bird, the Perigrine falcon.

[McMurdo]

Great photo Scott
I look forward to seeing more in the coming weeks, I know there are some Peregrine Falcons in Toronto, but I'm not sure where they roost. Again great photo.

Here is the Canadian Peregrine Foundation website, with a live webcam.
http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/

[Squeaky McMurdo]

Now I really need to get my friend Stui kilted! He has been doing falconry with his family since I met him back in grade school.

He now works in the Northern Territory of Australia at a raptor rehab and education centre.

One of his personal birds is a hybrid peregrine/prairie falcon (or as he calls her a "Prairie-grin" falcon) named Frightful.

Edit: I knew he had sent me this picture a while back!

[Panache]

Scott,

An excellent bird!

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

[GMan]

One majestic bird.

[Derek]

Great pic of what is a superb bird. We are lucky here where we live too, in that just over half hour drive from us there is a disused quarry, where there has been a nesting pair for the last several years and also in a little outcrop of crags up in Waterfall country similar. In the clock tower of the main City Hall building in the centre of the city, it was in our newspaper earlier this year that a pair of peregrines had set up nest there too. I never saw them whenever I passed although there have been many in the park in front of the hall with bins and telescopes. There was a programme many years ago about a pair of peregrines who nest annually and use the centre of London as their habitat. They obviously latch on to a good food source and seem quite prepare to put up with the traffic noise, pollution etc.
Iechyd Da
Derek

[Jimmy]

Where exactly are they, I know the area near Dunbeth Park, I used to work in Coatbridge College a few years back, Next time I am in Bellshill, I may take a trip over to see them.

[skauwt]

Where exactly are they, I know the area near Dunbeth Park, I used to work in Coatbridge College a few years back, Next time I am in Bellshill, I may take a trip over to see them.

the high rise flats in coatbridge town centre you cant miss them only time youll spot them is when its bucketing down they just sit out the heavy rain on those roof tops sometimes you may see them head out to the lochs or towards cumbernauld