Can you imagine finding yourself with some unexpected free time, tied to home but not much to do, and finding out that a pair of Peregrine Falcon chicks are preparing to take their first flight just minutes away and even visible from your own house? Well, if you stand on a chair on one leg in your attic with a pair of trusty binoculars! It’s better than some sea views on the Cornish Riviera!

Recognising the rare opportunity I decided to dedicate myself to witnessing this remarkable event, fully aware that it would require patience and commitment, but determined nonetheless. So armed with a sun hat, a pair of binoculars and a bottle of water I set out into the early summer heatwave.

Peregrine Falcons, known for their high altitude lifestyles, whilst they roost, nest and hunt, often go unnoticed despite living alongside us. I knew of their presence inhabiting the heights of Ealing Hospital after purely serendipitously seeing Sean and the wonderful Ealing Wildlife Group observing them with their telescopes last year when I was passing. These falcons, named by the local community as Freddie and Dusty, have majestic flights and astonishing hunting speeds of over 200 mph, making them truly awe-inspiring creatures and one of my all-time favourite birds.

These falcons are one of us London’s back garden hidden gems. They are known to soar over us high in the sky, almost out of reach of our gaze, recognisable only by their gliding silhouette against a bright sky. However, when you do catch sight of one of these magnificent birds at close range as they skim overhead, their beauty is mesmerising and onlookers’ binoculars swing across the sky in delighted unison.

Looking sharply dressed in tightly striped trousers, and gliding effortlessly on huge strong wings, at close quarters the talons are clearly long, strong and deadly sharp… and on occasion can be seen to be holding an unfortunate pigeon, or a local Peregrine delicacy I’m afraid to say, a bright green Ring Necked Parakeet.

A treat of watching these birds for any greater length of time is getting to see their renowned and much-admired mid-air hunt.  Using skills honed over generations of evolutionary time, after circling around and gaining height they will lock onto their unwary target and initiate a diving “stoop”, using gravity and their highly evolved aerodynamics to allow them to reach the fastest speeds of any hunter, staggering for their size, of over 200 mph! Making deadly contact with the unlucky prey of the moment, and either knocking it from the sky or grasping it with its claws to take it straight home to feed the family.

Which brings me to the chicks! Hatched upon the topmost ledge of Ealing Hospital, under the watchful eye of YouTube viewers from all across the world, but especially in the local area of Hanwell, the chicks have successfully hatched and grown by the day until they have all but lost their baby downy fluff and are beginning to flap their wings in earnest, building strength for one of the most important days of their life, their first flight!

As they started to master their wings and get ever more confident and exploratory along the confines of their lofty ledge the anticipation grew with each passing day! They were building their strength and coordination, balancing on the edge of their nesting box, mastering the forces, stretching out their wings to feel the wind blow through their feathers in just the right way to let them feel the lift it can provide. All very tense and full of anticipation!

Finally, the long-awaited day arrived. After mastering flighty hops up to the uppermost pillars of the building, right above their nest, having mastered the art of flapping their wings to maximum effect, they were able to get both feet truly off the ground, catching the wind (or maybe the wind catching them). They were like tiny helicopters, their feet hanging a good two feet off the ground.

Excitement filled the air as onlookers watched with bated breath, and unsurpassable cries of encouragement, “Go On, Go On!” At first, they landed back down and had a well-deserved rest. But a short while later, another flap, another helicoptering, and this time it was a little bit higher, a little bit longer, a slight forward thrust, and they were away! Flying their very first flight!

In the coming days, the spectacle wasn’t quite over. The chicks gained confidence and strength, at first protected and then encouraged by their parents. Playful games of chase ensued encouraging the now almost adult-looking juveniles to fly higher, and faster; flying, swooping, diving and eventually stooping at ever-increasing speed. Pigeons beware!

This blog was written by EWG member and number one Peregrine fan, Helen McCormick