Forget bats in the belfry, there are peregrines on the Houses of Parliament - not to mention a growing number of other high-profile places around the capital
Big Ben strikes 4.45am and a juvenile peregrine falcon sweeps into the air from the clock tower, a small anchor shape silhouetted against a just-lightening city sky. The bird flies over to the north side of the Palace of Westminster and settles among the gargoyles, blending in perfectly. Dave Morrison, lifelong Londoner and peregrine obsessive, focuses his telescope onto the tower.
The young female, identifiable by her flight and size, sits calmly on the well-known structure that has been her home for the past few weeks. Her territory, shared with her parents and three siblings, is an exclusive area beside the Thames, with the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey at its centre.
Back in the 1960s, the peregrine falcon was almost extinct in Britain. Killed during the Second World War to stop them preying on messenger pigeons, peregrines then suffered the devastating impact of the pesticide DDT. But new levels of protection and restrictions on pesticide use have meant this stunning bird of prey, acknowledged as one of the fastest in the world, has now recovered.
Perhaps surprisingly, its recovery is best illustrated by the fact that numbers are thriving in the middle of London - more than 20 pairs are known to be living within a 20-mile radius of St Paul's Cathedral.
Traditionally associated with remote mountain crags, the peregrine loves London for its concrete canyons and cliff faces of brick and mortar. Tower blocks are perfect places to nest and the river is an excellent commuting route.
Bird-spotting
At 5.30am an adult female falcon flies in carrying a limp feral pigeon. She lands on Parliament and begins to pluck her prey. Pigeons are another reason London is so appealing to peregrines, but they aren't as easy a target as you may think. Alert to predators, the birds fly within the protection of large groups, dropping low and hugging the rooftops, and making what Dave calls sudden 'jinking' movements. Peregrines aren't guaranteed a kill - it can sometimes take several hunts before they're successful - but ultimately they are London's top avian predator. Pigeons are rich pickings and keep the falcons well fed.
Peregrines take smaller birds in their talons as they fly, though it is their powerful beaks that will deliver the death blow. During spectacular 1,000ft swoops, they can reach speeds of 150mph. When courting, they perform impressive aerial acrobatics and pass food gifts in flight. Beautiful, bold birds, then - ones with which it is easy to become obsessed.
Dave is a Barking boy, and a steel-fixer by trade. He's been entranced by the peregrine falcon since seeing one while he was on a job. Work often involves being high up on building sites and bird-watching opportunities arise often in such spots. His enthusiasm is infectious and his once-unconvinced work colleagues are now also guilty of sky-watching.
For the past 10 years Dave has been monitoring London's peregrines, and his interest and expertise has grown to the point where he's now consulted by landowners who find they have falcons on their buildings.
Peregrines are a Schedule One listed species, which means they have the highest protection possible under wildlife law. You have obligations if a pair decides to nest on your property, which Dave is able to advise upon, as well as offering services such as putting up custom-built nesting boxes and platforms.
It may not seem like much, but simply keeping detailed records of peregrine numbers, their whereabouts and behaviour, is really valuable. How else would we know the birds were on the increase in the city? The wildlife data collected by nature enthusiasts like Dave is extremely important in painting a picture of how species are faring, both locally and nationally.
