A peregrine falcon perched on a wooden beam inside a high-rise building in Glasgow being prepared for demolition, with city buildings and greenery visible in the background.

Part one : The red Road flats peregrines.

A male peregrine brooding the young eyas (Chick) with the female (Falcon) watching over.

Members of the central Scotland raptor study group and Safedem installing a peregrine falcon nestbox on the red road flats back in 2011

Members of the scottish raptor study group and staff from Safedem Installing a nestbox on The Red road flats 2011

The first nesting Peregrine Falcons were found on the iconic Red road flats in North Glasgow back in 2012.

Demolition of the flats was halted for severel months to allow the birds to complete nesting.

The birds layed two eggs and only one hatched.

The single Eyas (Chick) had a ring fitted by The Central Scotland Raptor Study Group

and was returned to the nest.

The Eyas (chick) was sexed as a female bird and went on to fledge succesfully.

Juvenile falcon perched on the front of the nest on the red road flats north Glasgow

The young female at 7 weeks old

After Fledging the young female was observed in the area for over 18 months

Strangely the adult female had gone missing a few months after the young one fledged.

The adult male hung around the territory along with his offspring and eventually both birds paired up .

Sadly I got a phone call to say a peregrine had been found in a churchyard at the top of Red road and when I got there i found it was our young female.

The bird was collected and passed on to DEFRA .

After severel months the results came back that the bird had a collision while hunting.

An urban peregrine scrape North Glasgow 2012

Two eggs were layed on a ledge on the 24th floor

Steven Mcgrath with a young female peregrine found in the north of glasgow

Late summer 2020 I found a pair of peregrines on Glasgow Cathedral.

After taking a photo of the female I realised she had an orange ring fitted.

I later contacted BTO and discovered the bird was a 1 year+ bird that had hatched in 2019 on Norwich cathedral.

Glasgow has got a new pair of breeding peregrine falcons !

The pair went on to breed in march 2021 and laid 2 eggs high up on the cathedral spire.

This is the first confirmed nesting attempt since 2012.

unfortunately the falcon who is banded L7 choose a gully on the spire were the rain runs into,on top of this we had severe rain for a few weeks and the eggs got soaked.

The pair failed on their first attempt.

I contacted the cathedral and luckily they agreed for me to Install a nestbox.

Aerial view of peregrine falcon (L7/Bonnie) on top of Glasgow cathedral with gothic architecture, surrounded by trees, sidewalk, and nearby buildings in an urban area.

L7 the female falcon brooding eggs on the right hand side of the spire

Aerial view of L7/Bonnie on Glasgow cathedral during her first nesting attempt

L7 brooding centre of photo 2021

Part 2 : Glasgow Cathedral

Peregrine falcons on Glasgow cathedral spire, with wings spread, foodpass

Male peregrine bringing food in for the female bird

With the support from staff at Glasgow cathedral we Installed the nestbox complete with camera to monitor the falcons.

Unfortunately the birds never choose to use the nestbox.

I searched the city and eventually found the birds on the city chambers building near George Square.

A few weeks later with the help from David Hodge we tracked them down again at Glasgow university.

I knew of nesting Ravens at the university the previous year and was almost sure they would choose the abandoned ravens nest.

From a safe distance I used a drone to have a look into the ledge to see if they were nesting!

Glasgow cathedral peregrine nestbox install
Juveniles performing acrobatics at Norwich cathedral 2019

L7 in flight with one of her siblings at Norwich cathedral 2019

Photo courtesy of Chris Skipper

Nestbox Install 2021

Close-up of several orange rings one of which is L7

Rings one of which were fitted to our female back in 2019 at Norwich Cathedral.

photo courtesy of Chris Skipper

View from a rooftop or high point overlooking a city with various buildings, cranes, and a cloudy sky in the background. On the rooftop, there are equipment and safety features, including a tablet on a stand, security cameras, and solar-powered lights, with moss and weathered stonework.

Nestbox installed with camera to monitor the birds 2021

A falcon perched on a rocky ledge against a rock wall, with a red band around its leg, holding a small animal or prey in its talons.

L7 the female falcon on Glasgow cathedral spire early 2021

Close-up of a bird of prey, possibly a falcon or hawk, perched on a rock or branch with a blurred background.

L7 in flight with her Juvenile plumage

Photo courtesy of Chris Skipper

Part 3 Peregrines at Glasgow university 2022

The Glasgow peregrines have found a new location! The Gilbert Scott building at Glasgow university.

In Early 2022 we started noticing the pair moving around the west side of the city.

The Gilbert Scott building became a favourite hunting spot for them.

March 2022 I put a drione up from a safe distance to check the ravens nest and there she was ! L7 the cathedral female brooding a clutch of eggs.

we kept the nest location quiet for the first few months.

I contacted Glasgow university about the birds nesting and offered to install a nest tray and camera for the following year.

The birds produced 3 young in 2022 one of which fledged prematurely and landed in the university Quadrangle.

Mark Rafferty from The central Scotland raptor study group came out and returned the bird to the top of the building after fitting a ring and Dna swabbing the bird.

A man holding a young hawk or falcon inside a room with patterned walls and windows in the background.

Mark Rafferty ringing the young peregrine 2022

Close-up of a historic stone building with Gothic-style arched windows and columns, overlooking a cityscape and green park area.

Ravens nest on the Gilbert Scott building Glasgow university 2022

A bird of prey, possibly a falcon, perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves and small round seed pods. 
Juvenile peregrine 2022

Close-up of the corner of an old stone building with a small ledge, featuring two white and black columns and a small bird's nest with a bird inside. The building has moss and lichen growth, and the foundation has decorative stone carvings.

L7 the female falcon brooding her clutch of eggs

Part 3

Glasgow university Peregrines 2023

After a succesfull year in 2022 the birds returned to the ravens nest at the Gilbert Scott Building in 2023.They produced 3 young birds which werent ringed.

Two hawks flying against a clear blue sky.

Two of the recently fledged youngsters high above the university in 2023

A bird of prey, likely a falcon or hawk, catching a smaller bird mid-air against a clear blue sky.

Foodpass from the Tiercel to a juvenile bird

Part 4 : Glasgow university Peregrine falcons 2024

Two of the 2024 juveniles playing in the air

The pair returned to the university again for the third year,this year saw them get fitted with color rings unlike the previous years.

We had 3 males and 1 female !

ZZ6 was the only female

Z36,Z46 and Z66 were all male birds,

Two birds of prey, possibly falcons or hawks, flying against a clear blue sky.

Two of the ringed juveniles playing in the air over Glasgow university 2024

Two hawks in midair combat with beak and talons engaged against a clear blue sky.
A bird of prey, possibly a hawk, in flight against a bright blue sky. The bird has outstretched wings with detailed feathers and a sharp gaze.

ZZ6 female juvenile in flight