History of peregrines at Huntly

 

1938 - 1975

Working quarry, providing stone for roads, and the airport runway at Lossiemouth.

1985

Confirmation of breeding peregrines.

2002 

Pair of peregrines and a buzzard found poisoned. Female found on scrape. Male and Buzzard found on quarry floor.

2003

Peregrine Wild Watch Centre opens. A new pair breed, producing 3 eggs, however the female leaves the nest site and fails to return, and the eggs are lost.  Later in the summer a young (juvenile) female appears and bonds with the male.

2004

Successful breeding!

• Egg laying: first egg, 5th April. All three eggs laid by 8th April
• Hatching around 16th June (exact date unconfirmed)
• First sighting to confirm three chicks on 31st June
• Fledged - 24/25th June. One male, two females
• Rung - 1st July.

2005

The adult birds remained around the quarry over winter, however the female disappeared on 26th March, one week before laying.

• 27th March: juvenile female arrives, 1 year old
• 5th April - two female juveniles fight on the eyrie
• Mating witnessed, 8th April
• Egg laying: first egg 21st April,  second egg 24th April
• Both chicks hatched on 27th May, however one died on the 29th
• Remaining chick fledged on 11th July and wasn't rung.

2006

Another new young female, her first breeding season.

• Egg laying: first egg 4th April, second egg 7th April, third egg 9th April.
• Hatching: first chick on 11th May and the second and third chicks on the 12th
• Male chick fledged on 19th May and the two females on the 24th May
• Ringing took place on 30th May
• Same pair over wintered in quarry.