Peregrine Falcons at Malham Cove

Malham Cove is one of the most successful peregrine nest sites in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with at least 61 young raised since a pair first nested in 1993.

• The Malham Peregrine Project is a partnership between the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the RSPB. The free peregrine viewpoint at Malham Cove is open every Thursday to Monday from 5 April – 5 August 2019 (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Project staff and volunteers will be on-hand with telescopes and up to the minute updates.

• The peregrine is the largest British breeding falcon. It is 38-48 cm long, and its wingspan is 95-110 cm. The female is considerably larger than the male. The upper parts are dark blue-grey, and the under parts are pale with fine, dark bars. The head has a black ‘hood’ with black moustache-like markings on the face. Juvenile birds are browner and heavily streaked below

• Peregrines typically pair for several years and may live up to 10 years old – the oldest known wild peregrine was 17 years.

• Both adult birds tend the young, which take their first flight after 5 or 6 weeks

• Peregrines feed on medium sized birds, predominately pigeons, which they catch in high-speed aerial stoops – although more often than not they fail to make a kill.

• When they go into their famous aerial stoop, peregrines have been recorded reaching speeds over 200 miles an hour, making them the fastest animal on the planet.

2020

Peregrines at Malham 2020 Due to covid-19 and Government advice, we will be suspending the Malham Peregrine Project until further notice.

June 2020, Two chicks fledged.

2019

3 Chicks seen on the ledge!

17 May 2019 No one has seen them, but it’s certain that peregrine falcon chicks have hatched high up on Malham Cove. In the past few days adult birds have been carrying food to a nest site. This marks at least the 22nd time that a pair has hatched chicks at Malham since the birds returned there in 1993.

2017

The Malham Cove RSPB Peregrine Falcon viewpoint will be open again for 2017

Update, 3 eggs, 3 chicks have hatched and took their first flights on June 15th

Peregrine Falcon at Malham Cove, © Joe Cuthbert.

2016

2 chicks have hatched and took their first flights on June 15th

2015

Updates on eggs, chicks will follow here

2014

Visitors to Malham Cove will again be given the chance to see breeding Peregrine Falcons through an ongoing partnership between the RSPB and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Peregrine Falcon at Malham Cove, © RSPB.

UPDATE we now have 3 – NO we now have 4 Peregrine chicks confirmed

NEWS Peregrine chicks steal the limelight at Malham Cove

Its official there are at least two peregrine chicks at Malham Cove. The youngsters have been spotted moving about in the nest, much to the delight of peregrine fans.
The eggs hatched earlier this month, but with the peregrines nesting out of view, it was difficult to confirm the number of eggs or chicks. With the chicks now growing and starting to move, RSPB and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) staff and volunteers at the viewpoint have been able to confirm there are at least two youngsters. However, there may be more chicks yet to be seen and visitors to the viewpoint are encouraged to keep a close eye on the action.

Ian Court, National Park Authority Wildlife Conservation Officer, said: Its exciting times at the cove now that we have had the first glimpses of the peregrine chicks. Everyone has been eagerly waiting for the first sightings and it is great news that they have now started to show, with the staff and volunteers all looking forward to sharing the unfolding story with visitors to the cove in the coming weeks.

As the adults continue to bring food to the nest regularly, visitors can watch the adventures of the Peregrines and plenty of other wildlife through the telescopes at the viewpoint.

Kate Struthers, the RSPB’s Yorkshire People Engagement Officer, said: We should see the young peregrines in the air in the next few weeks, as they start to fly quite quickly. It will be fantastic for visitors to watch them learn to hunt. There is plenty of other wildlife to see too, with the tawny owls still showing well on some days, along with green woodpeckers and summer migrants such as redstarts and spotted flycatchers.

Peregrine falcons have recorded speeds of more than 200 miles an hour about three times as fast as a cheetah and have earned themselves the title of the fastest animals on the planet.

Volunteers at the viewpoint will be providing weekly updates on a special National Park Authority website and the birds are featured on Twitter using @malhamperegrine and on the RSPB’s Facebook pages.

2014 The project will run from Saturday the 5th April through to 3rd August. Telescopes and information assistants will be provided to help visitors get the most of their visit.

9th May 2013 nest update. Excitement in Malham as three chicks hatch. Ian Court, the YDNPA’s Wildlife Conservation Officer, said: Now the chicks have hatched, the peregrine activity will increase over the coming weeks. The adult male will be hunting to feed his young family and once the chicks do not need as much protection, the adult female will soon be doing the same.

Ella Dixon, the RSPB’s Yorkshire People Engagement Officer “When the peregrines are hunting and feeding, it’s a great time for people to visit the site as there will be plenty of excellent opportunities to see these incredible birds.

Peregrines started nesting at the cove 20 years ago and since then they have raised more than 40 young, so it’s great to see this continue with the latest arrivals. We hope as many people as possible take up the opportunity to see the peregrines in the flesh.

2013 nest update. Start of the season brought very cold winds and snow but the pair do seem to be favouring last years nest sight, signs are good of having eggs this year although we can’t be 100% sure yet.

2012 nest update, 16th May, 2 chicks spotted, 1 much smaller than the other, possibly a male & female, 7th June, Chicks Fledged, 1 day later than last year.

2011 nest update, 1st June, 3 chicks sighted on nest ledge, 7th June looks like 1 femal & 2 male chicks, 13th June 1st chick fledged other 2 still sat on ledge, 14th June all 3 chicks off the nest & doing circuits of the cove, 17th June Fledgling acrobatics around the cove.

2010 nest update, 1st May, 4 eggs, 2 hatched, 2 chicks in residence in the scrape nest

The Cove has hosted a pair of Peregrine Falcons since 1993 and for the last few years, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and Yorkshire Dales National Park have run a special viewpoint, as part of the Societys Arent birds brilliant! scheme. Last year, nearly 29,000 people flocked to Malham to watch the birds.

The project is part of the RSPB’s Aren’t Birds Brilliant! Programme of events, which make rare and spectacular birds accessible for everyone to see. As well as the peregrines, visitors to Malham can expect to see green woodpeckers, little owls, redstarts and cliff-nesting house martins.

FACTFILE

RSPB Information Officers and a team of enthusiastic volunteers will be on with high-powered telescopes and binoculars to give visitors a close-up view of the stunning peregrine falcons nesting there.
During the early summer, the area around Malham Cove becomes the peregrine’s hunting and training ground and this gives everyone at the foot of the cliff a fantastic display of their speed and power. The peregrine is the largest British falcon and can reach speeds of around 180kph (112mph) when it ‘stoops’ after prey. These fantastic falcons are so fast that, to avoid injury on impact, they catch their prey mid-air with stunning displays of aerobatics.
The best place to start your visit is at the Malham National Park Centre, where you can get updates about how the peregrines are getting on and check on the viewing times.
An easy walk from the Malham National Park Centre to the foot of the Cove will give you a special opportunity to see these birds at close quarters. The Information Officers will also be able to point out other birds at the Cove, such as little owl or a laughing green woodpecker. Redstarts and large numbers of house martins also make the Cove their home. We look forward to welcoming you to the peregrine viewpoint!

MALHAM PEREGRINE PODCAST

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Website also has 2 interesting Peregrine Podcasts from July 2009 & June 2011 Peregrine Podcast or you can follow the Malham Peregrines on Twitter www.twitter.com/malhamperegrine

Malham Peregrine Falcon Links

The following Peregrine links may be useful

Yokshire Dales Malham Peregrine Pages
www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/peregrines.htm
What other birds to see at Malham CoveWhat else to see at Malham Cove
RSPB Peregrine Falcon Information (RSPB)
www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/p/peregrine/index.asp
‘Splish’ and ‘Splash’ have international appeal, 2008 chicks
www.rspb.org.uk
Get Twitter updates on the Malham Peregrines
www.twitter.com/malhamperegrine
Malham Peregrine Facebook page, lots of progress updates & photos
Malham Peregrine Watch on Facebook

Want to keep in touch with occasional special events & offers? then please Subscribe to the Malhamdale Newsletter

Want to contribute or get listed? e-mail us.