At last.

 I have been watching these peregrines for many weeks now and this evening I was rewarded by the first sighting of a new family. I had believed there was a nest up there somewhere but watching carefully the movements and behaviour of the birds I just couldn't be certain of its existence.

This evening my thoughts were confirmed with the first sighting of a youngster by this pair and did a bit of practice on its wing movements and making a lot of noise screaming.

 Then I spotted what all the fuss was about, hidden in a tree some distance away was mum having her evening meal.

The youngster didn't have to wait for long and mum brought it a share. Mum then flew off with food in her talons I am sure to feed another.

Gruesome, but life

Paid my usual visit to the peregrines last evening to find mum was feasting on a kill. 

After eating her fill she flew off to feed the youngsters. Still cannot locate the nest. my view being obscured by the trees. The young ones can be heard welcoming mum.

Meanwhile behind my back the barn owl is doing the same more quietly and sedately.

More barn owl pics.

With the peregrines still keeping the whereabouts of their nest a secret the barn owls have come to the fore.

The pair are both hunting often seen at the same time. When they make a kill they disappear into the trees at the same spot so I have now changed my mind on the location of their nest.

The location is so clear that I am able to photograph them in very low light.

I have now sorted my new Sony Alpha 77/2 with a bit of help from the instruction book from the 77. The book that comes with the 2 being absolutely useless.

New camera test

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I collected a new camera body the other day but because of the wet weather I was unable to try it until now. I took a trip out to check on the peregrines. I parked the car and set the camera up on the roof when Jacque who had come with me for a drop of fresh air gave me a nudge and behind me was a barn owl quartering the field..

Not an unusual occurance but what an opportunity to try the camera.

 The owl gave us about 10 minutes of pure delight in which I forgot about the peregrines and rattled off over 100 shots of this beauty.

 It came quite close at times so I was able to test the camera over its full range of goodies.

I think I spent my money wisely.

Barn owl

While I sit in the car watching and photographing the peregrines this is whats happening behind my back on the other side of the road.

I think it has a nest nearby and hunts in the field behind me.

I was so intent on watching the peregrines that I never noticed it, until one evening I saw it in the reflection of my glasses. Now I stand a mirror on the roof of the car so that I can get an advanced warning of it approaching.