The Arrival of the Peregrines
There is no known history of Peregrines nesting on St Marys Church. The first bird, a juvenile male, was recorded in late 2021 and continued to roost and feed on the building through the winter and into the following summer. On 15 September 2022, during an organised village bird walk, two Peregrines, a male and a female, were observed together. Since then, birds have been seen regularly at the church, though no pair has yet nested or bred. In 2025, a previously recorded male returned and occasionally roosted overnight. Then, in early 2026, a female appeared, and by March the pair were seen together on the nest box. Their first egg was laid on 29 March, followed by two more over the next week. We are hopeful this will mark the church’s first successful breeding season. Across the UK, the Peregrine population is estimated at 1,500 to 1,769 breeding pairs—a 22% increase since 2002.
Some facts about Peregrines can be found here.
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In late 2022. plans were made to install a nest box on the north face of the tower, their most common feeding place. A louvered window in the bell chamber was identified as the best position and on 10 February 2023 the box was hauled into position and secured by a team of volunteers under the supervision of Peter Merchant, an authority on Peregrines and recognised by the RSPB as an expert in breeding and rehabilitation. Peter, a recipient of the RSPB Presidents Award, designed and built the nest box specifically to fit the opening in the window and without the need to drill or deface the walls or structure of the church. While installing the nest box, the female visited the tower and perched above the team.
With the benefit of a Sustainable Development Grant, the video camera was positioned on the 13th December 2023 when team members, the camera supplier and the local broadband company, met at the church to install and configure the equipement.
