Peregrine falcons spotted loving life in Wolverhampton
As a bird of prey that thrives near coasts, you may not expect to see a peregrine falcon flying over Wolverhampton.
However, with five or six pairs across the Black Country and Birmingham according to West Midlands Bird Recorder Kevin Clemence, they can be spotted.
Capable of flying at faster than 200mph, peregrine falcons are some of the fastest birds in the world and hunt medium sized birds like pigeons and small ducks.
Keen birdwatcher Hughie King, from Bilston, snapped one falcon perched high on the tower of St Peter's Church and said: "It is got more and more common over the years, they find perches on churches and office blocks.
"We have been spotting them for around three or four years – it has been a well-known secret between birdwatchers that they have been about for a while.
"All the pigeons around too means they have plenty of food, so that plays a part.
"Walsall have had them too, on top of the Town Hall. Peregrines have adapted to towns and cities now."
Mr Clemence added: "They are well-established in the area now.
"They use the tower of St Peter's and the University of Wolverhampton office blocks.
"Those buildings act as artificial cliff faces for the peregrines.
"Members of the public may not have been aware but if you look up when you are walking through the city centre, you may just catch one flying over or perched high on a building."
