As part of our commitment to the local community and environment, Ashgrove Health Clinic in Higham Ferrers proudly sponsors a livestream from inside the Peregrine Falcon nesting box in St. Mary's Church spire.
Enjoy a real-time view of these incredible birds as they raise their young.
In 2023, when we first installed cameras in the St Mary’s church scrape box, we were able to see a long-standing breeding pair produce four young, but as you may know, the bird flu epidemic claimed all four eyasses and the male bird. We don’t know what became of the female. As of Jan 2nd 2024 the UK was, for the first time in many years, declared free of bird flu. The current risk to wild birds is still classed as medium, and with migratory birds returning, there will no doubt be more cases.
Early in 2024, we were busy in the scrape box, giving it a full clean with new gravel, and installing two new cameras and upgraded streaming equipment. After we’d resealed the box for the final time, there was a bird in there before we’d reached the bottom of the ladder!
So we had a new pair of falcons! Unfortunately, the female nested in a water spout elsewhere on the spire and the eggs were washed away in the heavy rains. On a positive note, the pair frequented the box throughout the rest of 2024, maintaining the scrape, bonding and occasionally bringing kills in.
March 2025, we were happy to see 4 eggs laid toward the end of the month. At the time of writing, we’ve watched the second eyas hatch and, Sod’s law, one of the cameras has died. Obviously we can’t access the box to repair the camera until the falcons are done with it.
Let us know if you see anything, and please do share any photos and tag The Ashgrove Clinic on Facebook!
The Peregrine is a large, powerful falcon and the worlds’ fastest animal. They are highly adaptable birds and can be found in a wide range of habitats, including coastal cliffs, upland moors, and urban areas. Peregrine Falcons are known for their incredible agility and speed, reaching in excess of 200mph in a dive, which makes them very effective hunters.
They feed on a variety of prey, including pigeons, ducks, and other birds, which they capture in mid-air. In recent years, the Peregrine Falcon population in the UK has experienced a remarkable recovery, following a period of decline in the 20th century due to pesticide use. Today, there are around 1,400 breeding pairs of Peregrine Falcons in the UK, and they are a common sight in many areas. The species is protected by law in the UK, and efforts are being made to maintain and enhance their habitat, which includes providing nesting sites on buildings and other man-made structures. This has contributed to the continued success of the Peregrine Falcon population in the UK, and they are now considered to be one of the country’s most iconic bird species. However, they are still persecuted – birds are illegally killed to prevent predation on game birds and racing pigeons.
They also have eggs and chicks taken for collections and falconry. Peregrines are a Schedule 1 listed species of The Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Peregrine falcons breed from late February to mid-April, and return to the same nesting site year after year.
They produce one or two broods a year.
Courtship – Jan-Feb-early March
Egg-laying – mid March-early April
Hatching – late April-early May
Fledging – early June