RICHARD WILLIAMSON Cathedral Peregrines...The peregrines' family life

The cathedral peregrines have lived up to their name as the most successful in known history as they rear the most recent of their children. Mum remains as good a mum as any family could ever want and dad does his bit too, having got family life down to a fine art.

By The Newsroom

Published 12th May 2012, 12:00 GMT

Updated 7th Jun 2018, 19:12 GMT

He brings in the shopping at 8am and again at 11am and spends the rest of his time in his shed. That is, the little nook he calls his own in the masonry near the top of the spire.

Because he is a third smaller than his wife, (giving him the correct falconers’ title of tiercel) he can only carry small shopping bags. A starling, or maybe a blackbird for instance.

If his wife, (correctly called the falcon) wants any food more substantial, she has to go out herself and get it. She can carry a wood pigeon, and was even seen bringing home a mallard for over a mile. That would be as much as she weighs: in our terms carrying half an ox or a whole pig.

If you go to the cathedral restaurant you will see the whole of this family life on the big screen in the garden. Well worth a visit.