The Wanderer
- Jeff Clarke
- May 25
- 3 min read
All images by Jeff Clarke
Peregrine Falcon - unique female brown bird photographed Northwich, UK May 2006 © Jeff Clarke
As a young birdwatcher in the 1970's seeing a Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus was a rare treat. These exceptionally charismatic predators were brought low through the devastation of DDT and back then it still reverberated through the surviving population that was just beginning a slow recovery.
As it repopulated it's traditional nesting sites a surplus of birds began looking for alternative cliff-like nesting sites and the burgeoning of the urban Peregrine became an increasingly familiar theme. Sitting aloft on precipitous towers, cathederals and other vertiginous building that provided the perfect launch pad in pursuit of an abundant source of prey, the Feral Pigeon, as well as a surprising array of alternative avian targets.
Peregrine Falcon female at a sit in Liverpool May 2020 © Jeff Clarke
Worryingly as the urban populations began to rise it has became glaringly obvious that traditional upland sites are repeatedly failing to produce young, or are now vacant. We always suspected (for suspected substitute knew) the reason, but proving it has been a long and difficult process with vested interests and their allies blocking progress on revealing the truth.
Peregrine Falcon juvenile Lunt Measows December 2015 © Jeff Clarke
Thankfully the dedicted work of professional and skilled amateur ornithologists have demonstrated the irrefutable link between the Grouse shooting industry and continued rampant raptor persecution in the UK. It is beyond belief that a quarter way through the 21st century this arcane illegal practice continues unabated. Our wilfully blind politicians (of all stripes) and the abject failure of law enforcement is a stain on the nation and a complete abrogation of duty to protect UK wildlife.
Here's an extract from the British Trust for Ornithology website "The study by the North-east Raptor Study Group provides compelling evidence that the single biggest reason for the decline of upland Peregrines in this region is persecution associated with grouse moor management."
Peregrine Falcon adult Flamborough Head January 2025 © Jeff Clarke
Give Peregrines a chance and they have demonstrated their ability to repopulate vacant territorries if the limiting factors are removed. This species scientific name peregrinus is Latin, meaning "one from abroad" or "coming from foreign parts". Also sometimes referred to as 'the Wanderer'. Young birds without a territory will wander considerable distances to find a home and the young female below was photographed on the east coast of Yorkshire in May 2025. She carries a green Darvic ring with an inscription that can be read in the field and proves she was ringed, on the 31st May 2023, at Erith in South-East London. She is believed to be paired with an adult male whose mate has recently disappeared. Hopefully this time next year she'll be raising chicks of her own.
Peregrine Falcon female in her 2nd calander year. May 2025 © Jeff Clarke
If we cannot protect a totemic bird like the Peregrine Falcon from illegal persecution then it bodes ill for species with a lower profile. There is no justification for killing a Peregrine Falcon, or any other raptor species. The fact is we have a small, but powerful, minority of humans in the UK that feel so entitled that their enjoyment of killing grouse for fun and pleasure might be even minutely impacted then the grouse's natural predator and thereby demand its anihilation from their preferred upland breeding grounds. What a damning testament to the arrogance and selfishness of humans.
Protest and protect the Peregrine, a true marvel of nature, supremely adapted to taking its prey in breath-taking stoops, when it has been recorded accelerating to an astounding 242mph. If you have never seen one then I recommend you visit your local cathederal and check out the gargoyle with a fierce stare and chest muscles to die for.
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