I spotted one of our south coast Peregrine sat high on a cliff ledge yesterday morning, Its wing feathers are greying up and its feet beginning to yellow but it still has a very distinctive blue beak and mottled brown chest of a juvenile.
Fifteen minutes later it started limbering up, wing stretching and pooping which are all signs that it will be leaving its perch shortly,
It soon took off and flew to harass its mother into catching more prey but she side stepped as the juvenile flew in and moved to another ledge further along the cliff leaving the youngster frustrated and shouting behind her.
As the female settled down again she kept track of her off-springs movements so as to be aware of any more approaches and sure enough the young bird came charging in again shouting all the way like a spoilt kid.
But this wily female had seen it all before and her superior flight skills were as such that the young peregrine was on a losing battle to harass her and the females evasive action tended to suggest that prey had been provided earlier in the morning
The juvenile seemed to give up its harassing and it certainly looked well fed and was now capable of catching its own prey if required but I guess like all off-spring it is often looking for an easy hand-out.
So now the female can hopefully settle down to a bit more peace and quiet before she goes hunting again, The male Peregrine has already moved out of the area seemingly unprepared to put up with the juveniles constant pestering for prey so this youngster needs to be careful or it might find itself :
HOME ALONE !!
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