New Peregrine Falcon at Norwich Cathedral

We were really sad to hear a few weeks ago that Norwich cathedral’s legendary peregrine falcon, GA had died following a collision with a parked car. GA had been watched by thousands of people over the last three years.

New peregrine falcon spotted at Norwich Cathedral

But we’re delighted to see reports on the BBC and in the Norwich Evening News that a new peregrine falcon has been spotted. It is hoped that she will stay. She has already been named Edith.

These brilliant photos are credited to Kim Skipper

Peregrine falcon love nesting at cathedrals across the UK. Read more about where they are and how you can access the many live webcams here.

Below is the report from the BBC

“Experts hope a new peregrine falcon will make the top of a cathedral her home after the recent death of another bird.

The peregrine falcon, nicknamed Edith, has been spotted flying around Norwich Cathedral.

Her arrival has come two weeks after another peregrine, GA (below), died after flying into a stationary car. Kim Skipper, who photographed the new arrival, said:

“Let’s hope the new falcon is successful.”

The Hawk and Owl Trust said on its Facebook page: “After the sad loss of GA a new falcon has visited!”

 

Adrian Blumfield, from the trust, added:

“It’s positive there is a new falcon in the vicinity, whether it stays or is chased away, only time will tell.”

The bird has been captured on a webcam, but streaming has been paused until 2022, he added.

Ms Skipper, who regularly photographs the birds with her husband, Chris, who she got to know whilst taking pictures of the birds, said: “GA was the reason me and Chris met when I got into the peregrines in 2017 and got married at the cathedral in April.

“It was so sad and upsetting when she died but we have wonderful memories.”

The bird was named Edith after Ms Skipper first saw her standing by the grave of World War One nurse Edith Cavell a week ago.

The trust said, GA, the eight-year-old who was labelled a “feisty” female, was first seen in the city in 2015 and took over the nesting ledge the following year, claiming the site for herself.

She had 24 eggs, 22 hatched and 14 successfully fledged, but she died on 12 November, from neurological damage, after hitting the car.

The Hawk and Owl Trust set up a nesting platform for peregrines on the cathedral in 2011.

Peregrine falcon facts

• Largest British breeding falcon with a body length of 15-19in (38-48cm) and a wingspan of 37-43in (95-110cm)
• Top speed of about 200mph (320km/h) when diving
• Breeding pairs stay together for about 10 years
• Mainly feeds on medium sized birds, such as pigeons
• Population was at a low in the 1960s
• Currently about 1,700 breeding pairs in the UK

Source: RSPB, Hawk and Owl Trust and Lavenham Falconry

 

This is the article from the Norwich Evening News

“Two Norfolk photographers have captured images of the new female peregrine falcon nesting at the Norwich Cathedral.

Chris and Kim Skipper captured photos of the new bird which has been seen visiting the building’s spire since GA, the previous female falcon, died.

The Hawk and Owl Trust confirmed GA was found on the ground by a member of the public and was thought to have hit a stationary car on November 11, 2021.

The following day, GA died having suffered neurological damage.

The new falcon, which the couple have nicknamed Edith, was seen on the spire and nesting platform within a few days of GA’s death.

Mr Skipper, a photographer well-known for his pictures of the falcons, thinks the new falcon may have had a hand in the death.

He said: “We do not know what happened to GA but it is very unusual for an urban peregrine to land on the ground. My take is that Edith turned up and had a scuffle with GA.

“A peregrine is an apex predator and as long as the new falcon got the higher ground she could easily have knocked GA out of the sky.

“This is what happened when GA took over in 2016, she disposed of the old falcon and took the territory over.

“As I often, say peregrines very rarely die of old age.”

Chris Skipper and wife Kim regularly head down to the cathedral to take stunning shots of the beautiful birds and even met at the cathedral while spotting the falcons.

They headed to the cathedral on November 23 to see the new falcon.

Mr Skipper added: “We first spotted her from near Edith Cavell’s grave which is why Kim gave her the name Edith.

“She spent most of the time we were watching her on the nesting platform and has done so for the last 10 days.

“The male falcon kept out of her way. With time the male will form a bond with Edith and hopefully we will get new eggs and chicks next year.”