FOUR peregrine falcon chicks have hatched from their nest situated on top of the Taunton Minster.
Locals can get an exclusive look at the new family of birds of prey through the Taunton Peregrines X (formerly Twitter) account, run by Robin Morrison.
“There are four cameras up there - we’ve got two cameras which look into the nesting area," Robin said.
“We’ve also got two which look onto the outside where they could be perching."
Robin, who enjoys wildlife photography in his spare time, explained that the two adult birds who have made the Minster their home have been in Taunton since 2017.
“The adults never really leave Taunton," he said.
“Our two adults were both ringed as chicks, one in Exeter and one in Bath in 2015."
The happy couple's four chicks hatched just last week, and have received a welcome reception from the followers of the Taunton Peregrines page.
“They’ve got four chicks to feed," Robin said.
“Hopefully we’ll get to see the birds appearing around the edge of the tower in late May.
Here is a great move. It should be called the ‘Cover up Shuffle’ 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ClovVaFQUu
— Taunton Peregrines. (@TauntonPeregri) April 30, 2024
He added: “They all look healthy. We’ve successfully had three or four out of the box for the last umpteenth years.
"They’ve got through the critical week.”
Although still a rather rare sighting, Robin explained that peregrine numbers have actually shot up since the species' decline in the 1960s.
He believes the family of falcons made their way to Taunton due to already coupled peregrines taking up coastal areas.
“Urban sites have become their place to be," Robin said.
“We now have a peregrine pair in Yeovil, Bath, and Exeter.
“I think it’s because a lot of the coastal sites got taken as numbers increased, so they’ve come inland.
"Often they’re encouraged by putting a small gravel tray up there."
Although the account and webcams were set up using a mixture of grants and crowdfunding some time ago, Taunton Minster continues to pay for the electricity to fund the web cams, and the internet connection.
"The Vicar Tobie Osmond is very keen on the falcons as well, we get the full support of the Taunton Minster," said Robin.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here