Is back in Halifax, the peregrines have returned!!!! Peregrine falcons have nested on and off in Halifax over the past ten years in an old church spire. For the last couple of years there has been a lot of building work around the spire so the peregrines have nested elsewhere, but this year they’re back. The peregrine is the fastest animal on earth using its amazing speed of over 200 mph to hurtle down on prey in its classic stoop. They can accelerate to 80mph in a second and with their large talons can take prey up to the size of a mallard duck. They are one of the worlds most common birds of prey and after almost being persecuted to the edge of extinction they have made a remarkable comeba
One of the most elaborate courting rituals your are likely to see this Spring is that of the Great Crested Grebe. First described in 1912 the spectacular display is played out across the waterways every spring. The grebes both sporting black and orange facial ruffs and black ear tufts will warily approach each other before starting to flick their heads from side to side. This may continue for a few minutes before they both dive down and re-emerge with beaks full of pond weed. They will then rise up from the water paddling furiously to maintain the height out of the water. Watching them it’s hard to comprehend the stamina needed to keep them chest to chest and extended above the surface. Once
It’s been quite wet the last few days and the woods are muddy to say the least. It was easy to spot deer tracks so I thought I’d follow them and see what I could find. I didn’t think for a minute I’d find a deer but why not just give it a go. After ten minutes I was about to give up and head down to the river, as I thought I’d have more chance of spotting a kingfisher, when I spotted some movement off to my right . I moved behind a tree and froze as two roe deer were grazing fairly close by. They’d spotted me as well and quickly bounced away. I headed off in the same direction hoping to get ahead of them but not really believing I’d see them again. I cut across the wood and then doubled back
For the last couple of years I've visited our local boating lake to watch the cygnets arrive and grow into beautiful swans. However this year the female was recently killed in an accident and after seeing her bring 16 young into the world this year over the last three years its going to be hard to visit. The male is still on the lake and even though he doesn't have a family to protect is still patrolling and chasing off perceived threats. The local swan rescue had to remove the three young from last year as Dad was trying to chase them off so they could prepare for a new brood, but the stroppy teenagers weren't going. After the death of the female they are looking to find a suitable replacem
