Nottingham City Peregrines

The Nottingham Peregrines have been nesting on the Newton Building for the last ten years and become almost celebrities receiving over 800,000 hits a year.

Around this time of year the chicks need to be ringed to help I.D them when older and track movements.

This year four chicks were ringed with the biggest being female normally and the smallest normally being male.

Peregrine numbers crashed in the 1960s due to the impact of pesticides. They have now increased slightly in numbers, to about 1,400 breeding pairs in the UK but their recovery in some areas is still held back by illegal persecution. They carry one of highest standards of legal protection and if peregrines are disturbed or harmed, perpetrators can face fines up to £5,000 and even imprisonment. Today, peregrine populations in Britain are slowly recovering thanks to their protected status and the banning of dangerous pesticides.  

When peregrines started to use this ledge as a nesting site, a few years ago, Nottingham Trent University and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust decided that for security reasons, a camera should be installed. This would hopefully prevent egg thieves or harm from intruders. It was only a few years later that we were then able to also stream this video feed live online. - See more at: http://www.peregrinecam.co.uk/

Even got the chance to hold one of the chicks!

Short video on the ringing of the chick

BBC Wildlife Local Patch Reporter
Jack Perks

@JackPerksPhoto
Facebook: Jack Perks Photography
Website: www.jackperksphotography.com

This week i visited Attenborough Nature Reserve for the Big 50 event happening celebrating 50 years of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust while also trying to find 50 new species for the reserve. This gosling as a pleasant distraction while walking to the hides.

a recent edition to the reserve is the sand martin hides behind the visitor centre, well worth a visit to see this stunning birds.

I've honestly never really given them much thought but were amazing to sit and watch coming in and out of the holes which have been made for them.

 Its amazing how close they get so its important to be quiet in the hide, the strong winds outside also blew the birds close to the glass for great views.

The sand martins inspect the holes bringing nesting material to there new homes.

You can see the natural sand banks in the background where the sand martins also breed but these artificial holes work just as well.

 Attenborough have set up cameras inside some of the nests offering fantastic views of the birds. Mike Dilger will be opening the hide on Sunday the 11th May while Springwatch will be looking to feature them also.

BBC Wildlife Local Patch Reporter
Jack Perks

@JackPerksPhoto
Facebook: Jack Perks Photography
Website: www.jackperksphotography.com

Top Tips for watching British Fish

Britain has a massive variety of fish species with 300 + sea species ranging from rock gobies the size of your thumb to basking sharks bigger then a bus. Its the freshwater species I'm concentrating on though with this (living about as from the sea as its possible in England) There are 54 species give or take migratory fish and alien species and despite swimming around in our rivers, lakes, canals and ponds there are ways to see and interact with them, you don't have to jump in with them like me!

Fish Watching Tips

• Wear polarising sunglasses to cut through the glare of the water and see the fish. (When taking pictures of fish above water use a polarising filter)

• Keep low down away from the skyline while walking upstream out of the fish's view

• Don't stomp your feet; the fish will feel your vibrations

• The clearer the water the easier it is to spot fish

• Fish rarely hang out in the open: look for cover

• Dull clothes will help you blend in

• Look for flashes or movement in the water

• Try throwing in bait and see if anything takes it like bread or kitchen scraps which are easy to see being taken

BBC Wildlife Local Patch Reporter

@JackPerksPhoto
Facebook: Jack Perks Photography
Website: www.jackperksphotography.com