PHOTO SPOT- PEREGRINE FALCONS IN MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE

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by Adrian Dancy

 

THE PEREGRINES THIS YEAR (2007)

Of course there was no guarantee that our peregrines would breed here in Manchester but the prospects always looked good. The birds hung around Manchester and a visit was made by a 3rd adult bird and no conflict was evident . The 3 birds were happy to roost up close to each other. The RSPB was keen to feature the birds on their website and the BBC was keen to feature them on the 'Big Screen' at the Triangle behind Mark and Sparks. The Manchester Evening News ran a publicity article using my pictures (always nice). Our birds did not disappoint. They had 4 chicks , just like last year though they were a touch late starting, the birds incubating for about 35 days. The BBC ran a competition to name the peregrine chicks and the public's imagination was lit up. Nearly 5000 people signed the visitors book and a good number of people joined the RSPB. Manchester's peregrines proved to be great ambassadors not only for the RSPB but Manchester too. I met Birders from Finland , Sweden and of all places an envoy from Rwanda who was keen to learn how wildlife should be promoted....heaven knows the wildlife in that country needs all the help it can get ...as do the people. The RSPB volunteers who put in a lot of time were delighted to have Dr Who (Tony Eccleston) take interest and sign the visitors book. I wished I was there!

Below: The 'big screen' in Exchange Square, Manchester City Centre showing live footage of the Peregrines. 

Below: Ever since I photographed dippers in spring my camera has been playing up and on the peregrine ringing day my camera decided it would put my skills to the test. It would not auto focus and sometimes would just simply lock me out by going dead. It frayed my nerves a bit but occasionally the camera would light up and let me take a picture. Holding a 500 long lens on top of a high rise buildings with very strong wind gusts was always going to be a challenge. The angle of view through the lens is only 5 degrees! The weather was awful , the light was dull and grey and these birds fly fast...I mean very fast! and with quick changes in direction as well. I saw the bird in the above photograph flying from the far left of my view and estimated the distance it would be when it crossed my line of fire and set the focus ring to what I thought might be the correct point of focus. The bird shot into view and I tracked it and estimated the best time to press the shutter. A moment too soon or too late and it would be gone or out of focus. Luck was on my side and I got the shot as sharp as the light and speed of the bird would allow. Even better, the bird could not have been at a better angle . I knew instinctively that I had nailed it. If nothing else had turned out it did not bother me. I have always said I'd rather get one good shot in a day than a 100 bad ones. The picture was shown few days later on the BBC news.

One of the things I have most wanted to is to photograph the peregrines on Manchester Cathedral and this year the juvenile birds obliged. I spent most of one Saturday hoping to get shots of food passes with no luck. Then late in the day the skies turned grey and I could see it was going to chuck it down. When that happens it can be good for a photographer in town because members of the public leave you alone. The bad side is the light gets bad and the birds disappear. Well not on this day! Two of the juveniles flew onto the cathedral to get out of the rain. I covered my lens up with polythene and did the best I could to keep the equipment dry. That was easy enough but the object lens still has to be exposed to the elements and the rain hit the glass badly so keeping it dry was a problem ...then it would steam up. I could not position myself correctly for the above shot to keep the architecture square to the shots I took. To do it properly I would have had to have been in the middle of a car park road which was busy at the time  but I did manage some nice shots. The birds kept dry but I got absolutely soaked. I did manage about a 100 shots of two birds on the cathedral and I dare say some will make nice large prints...especially some of the full frame shots. The bird in the picture below is getting ready to take off.

Below: I managed two shots of the bird taking off and the shot below may be the best one ...I am not sure?.
Photographing these birds has been a source of immense pleasure for me. I wished I had better gear to do them more justice but I have to make do with what I have. I would estimate that I have spent over 1000 hours getting these images and studying these birds...the return rate for good images is very low. You need bags of patience a lot of luck and you have to put up with being stopped by the police, scroats, drunks and junkies and at times I have had to fear for the safety of myself and equipment. My intention has always been to try and get the best photographic record there is in the country of urban peregrines. Whether I have achieved that only time will tell and it will be for others to decide.

 

Thanks have to go to Judith Smith (County Bird recorder), Manchester City Council (Bio-Diversity Group) and in particular to Jon Follows. Manchester City Council's Planning Department who have been pro-active in issues involving these birds and in particular the black redstarts, Collin Brookes who has a great head for heights and without whom the birds may not have had a nest tray, Matthew Capper of the RSPB and the volunteers who maintained enthusiasm throughout the campaign, The BBC and the BBC Big Screen who are making plans for even better coverage next year and in particular Sarah Griffiths, Manchester Evening News who have printed many of my pictures, Craig Bell (the peregrine ringer), the relevant building owners and managers, without whose help we could not have monitored these birds and I would not have been able to photograph at the nest. If I have forgotten anyone I apologise.
 
I would finally like to thank the peregrine that defecated on the four hoodies whilst they were giving me grief (taking the p..s) (honest!) I laughed my socks off!
 
Of course the peregrines have been the stars of the show and long may they continue to fly free over the city of Manchester for us all to see.  I hope you have enjoyed viewing my shots. I am currently hatching a plan to get an even better batch for next year.
 
Many thanks to all.