#beauitufl

10th August 2020-Peregrines and more at Winchester Cathedral and tree, garden birds and sky when home 

I had to come into the office for something this morning working out of it for the first time since March, and so as not to take the risk of using the train in current circumstances my Mum dropped me off in the morning then picked me up during my lunch break and I resumed home working this afternoon. So within that lunch break we used it as a chance to go to Winchester Cathedral and look for the Peregrines. With a text from my Mum to say no sign at the cathedral where she was already, I walked down to meet her, Missy and her husband there via St. Thomas Church where they often fly and base themselves. One Peregrine did fly over there and disappeared but I heard it and got a spare binocular view the first time I used my old pair for months that live in my work bag. I got chatting at a safe social distance to someone who was working by a retro cinema type place where if you walk up some steps onto the forecourt you can see the church and where the birds perch it was a lovely chat about the Peregrines and how they get to their famous speeds etc. A chat I really valued, and I also valued seeing my first Peregrine since March because for a bird I at times of year see every day working at the office in Winchester as normal I don’t think we’ve managed to see one anywhere once coronavirus restrictions lifted slightly and we could drive to exercise at less local places on weekends and time off. I had wondered if it had headed towards the cathedral along the Winchester birds’ well known flight path. 

And when I met my Mum there she was watching two Peregrines one of which I saw in the binoculars again which felt great. I took the the first two pictures in this photoset at the cathedral with my spare bridge camera also with me the camera I sneak into my work bag when in Winchester now and again showing a great vibe that there often is there. We then walked past on our way to the car in Colebrook Street car park the north tower where the Peregrines nest and sit here. Here as I did something I used to do so often but hadn’t since 20th March scanned the north tower ledge in my binoculars I was over the moon to spot a Peregrine one of the adults sat there. It was like I was never away, but did feel a bit surreal, as I used my long zooming bridge camera to snap some pictures of this bird including the third, fourth and fifth in this photoset. It was just as thrilling as it always is, being able to look up and see the fastest bird in the world and one of my favourite birds sat there looking very beautiful in the sun today. I was so happy to see it and watch it for a few minutes I could not stop looking at it really which is exactly what I did when I first saw them here and when I so regularly did with and without spare camera. 

It did allow me to reminisce on the most amazing times I have had with these birds young and old mostly on work lunch breaks. I missed not seeing the chicks landed this year - one of the birds I saw today must have been a chick I think just not the landed one at the cathedral north tower of the five this year an unusually high amount that fledged for the species - but I was so lucky to get the views and pictures I did of 2019′s brood of young birds whilst working normally in Winchester and photographing them on a few occasions. And when in lockdown and working from home alongside actually seeing wildlife locally and taking photos on daily exercise walks watching the Winchester Cathedral 2020 brood especially and other local cathedral’s resident nesting Peregrines really was something so nice and positive to focus on. So it was just good to get this moment of connection with one at the end of the breeding season. 

I really have missed the Peregrines in the flesh and it was as though I was having a flash back into my old life a bit today as cheesy as it sounds. The pictures I took ones I was so used to taking so it was nice to take some in more immediately modern times for me. Many looked like past ones of mine which was great. Its weird to think there are friends I’ve made on Twitter and probably here too in the past five months that have never seen me post Peregrine pictures as part of my day’s pictures. Its striking really considering I used to photograph Peregrines here so often there were days I didn’t manage it too at here and St. Thomas Church when I brought my camera but I photographed them at least once a month for a whole year. It always felt like I was getting something for nothing, a day I dressed in smart clothes and shoes and got on the train to come and work yet in my hour of freedom around Winchester I could take some photos to do and post that evening. Something mirrored in my working from home temporary but pretty permanent feeling necessary measure but at my local country park Lakeside and surrounding areas. Equally fantastic, but a slightly different feeling. So I had underestimated what a key part of my photography with my bridge camera a piece of kit I have had an amazing nearly two years with supporting my DSLR mainly with long distance shots. And it was just nice to go back to it even though this is probably a one off and if I have to go in again to the office it shouldn’t be for a long time I don’t think. 

I took the sixth picture in this photoset of the cathedral grounds looking lovely in the heatwave in this later summer going into autumn period. A wonderful place to enjoy some time outside on lunch today as it always is. I brought the Peregrine and cathedral pictures into a much more modern right now for me set with some pictures taken when home more like the ones I have been taking and loving doing so much lately. This included the seventh of trees out the front with some with autumn leaves coming through, the eighth and ninth of a young Starling in the garden in the sun this afternoon and Goldfinches drinking in the bird bath like the Starlings usually do which I have noticed them do a lot lately and the tenth and final of a weird sky it looked like a sunset but was about an hour ahead of the time the sun should set right now but was fun to capture whatever. A very different start to my wildlife and photography snippets in my day week this week but a brilliant one. It will be lovely to then contrast it with tomorrow when a Lakeside walk will all being well be my daily exercise and I’ll be aiming to check on my new family to follow of another of my favourite birds the Great Crested Grebe which I have followed so much this year the family and the chicks especially the past few weeks. Great to have both, have a good week all.