St John's Church, Weymouth
Sunday January 31st 2021
This morning's walk did not hold out much chance for photography given the cold and grey conditions, but you never can tell. I was on the seafront near the Pavilion when I noticed that there was something sat on the spire of St John's Church. There was a very good chance that this was the Peregrine that used to spend much of its time there several years ago. Luckily it was still there when I got to the other end of the esplanade.
I think this is the first video of a Peregrine that I have ever managed to get, apart from one or two on the cliffs at Portland made at great distance. In fact I have found them very difficult to photograph at all, this shot from near Blacknor on Portland is perhaps ten years old now.
Of course in the breeding season it is an offence to disturb a Peregrine, so you really shouldn't point a camera at them unless they are a great distance away, or flying over. However such regulations do not apply to any of the really rare birds that are only passing through, like this Gyr Falcon.
This bird, seen at Berry Head in Devon on April 3rd 1986, is one of the many rarity photos on my Rare Birds map.
