PEREGRINE
Falco peregrinus
2015
- Once more, most of the 40 records submitted were of birds seen in the Aire Valley, particularly in Bradford and Keighley. As in 2014, an adult male was seen on a Bradford chimney throughout January and March. However, after two males, one believed to be a young adult, were seen in the area on 15th March, there were no further reports until 10th October when an adult male was again seen (JL, KM). The situation in Keighley was much more successful, as breeding took place at the site previously used and two juveniles were seen with parents in June (MS).
On Keighley Moor, during August, a large female was watched as it mobbed a couple of Common Buzzards before a passing Hobby joined the fray. In the middle of the month a juvenile was seen to chase a pigeon, which evaded capture by dropping into the heather. The raptor looked in vain for its prey before taking off and then it was seen to unsuccessfully chase a juvenile Kestrel (IH).
There were also reports from Stockbridge, Bradup, Leeshaw and Bingley during the summer months, some of which may have been associated with the Keighley breeding pair (SR, RP, PM et al). Birds were also seen to the south of the valley at Warley Moor Reservoir, Denholme Clough, Haworth Moor and from the watchpoints at Caldene Fields and Oxenhope (MD, KM, CB). In the north of the area a bird was on Hazlewood Moor on 19th August and another was to the west of here on Barden Fell at the end of November (RN, WNS).
2016
- The 42 records received are much in line with 2015, but well down on many past years. A sign of changing times is that nearly 90% of the reports came from the south of the area: a complete reversal of the picture 20 years ago. Only a handful of sightings from Otley Wetland and Barden Fell upset this near-monopoly.
There having been several years with good breeding successes, the cupboard this year seems bare, though there were tantalising reports of birds at previously established sites. A pair was seen on the Keighley chimney used in earlier years, but not after mid-February, and they were also present at another long-used site up to the middle of the year at least, but at neither did they appear to breed. No birds were seen on the Bradford chimney where there have been sightings in the past, but a male was seen soaring and displaying in the general area in early April. More intriguing was a record of a pair soaring over moorland on 16th May (which the observer considered might be failed breeders), to be followed by a record of a juvenile male on the same moor three weeks later. However, a colour-ringed juvenile here in late August was believed to have originated from Lancashire.
2017
- Better-reported than last year, and, as in other recent years, most records are from the south of the area, and there continue to be several from the suburbs and even town centres. Most records were of singles or pairs, but four birds were seen at Barden and Oxenhope Moor. The only definite breeding record was from Keighley, where birds returned to the previously used site and three juveniles were watched. A bird was also seen at a previous breeding location.
2018
- As in 2017, there were 95 records, and again most came from the south, and included several urban reports. Single birds were the norm, though two were seen on a few occasions, and exceptionally three at Barden in January, and six in total passing Oxenhope Watchpoint. The well-established Keighley site was again in use, and three young were raised. No other successes were reported, though a pair visited a previously used site in May, and there were several sightings at what has been considered a potential breeding location in Bradford.