The story behind the peregrine falcons who live in the towers of Lincoln Cathedral
By Lincolnshire wildlife photographer Bruce Hargrave.
High above the city's rooftops, peregrine falcons have made their home in the towers of Lincoln Cathedral.
Through years of patient observation from the cathedral, this book captures their lives – courtship, nesting, hunting over the city...
...and the maiden flights of the young birds leaving the towers for their first time.
The book contains over 60 photographs across sixteen chapters, telling the story - in words and images - of an extraordinary year in the lives of these birds.
See the photographs in person
A selection of these photographs can currently be seen in the Peregrine Exhibition in the Chapter House at Lincoln Cathedral.
"Whether from the webcams, from Minster Yard, or from the top of the main tower, watching and photographing the peregrines has been one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life."
Inside the book you will discover:
• Courtship and bonding of the cathedral peregrines
• Nesting and incubation high in the tower
• The raising of the chicks in the scrape
• The first flights of young peregrines over Lincoln
• Hunting behaviour above the rooftops of the city
• The quiet moments between dramatic events
The chicks start to lose their white downy feathers as they get ready to fly for the first time
Young peregrines hone their hunting skills by play-fighting with each other
Here is how the story begins:
Prologue
Just as the sun begins to rise over the ancient city of Lincoln, the air is pierced by a sharp, echoing cry. It reverberates off the weathered stone of Lincoln Cathedral, bouncing between its towering spires and spilling into the cobbled streets below.
To the uninitiated, the sound might be mistaken for a gull or a distant siren. But for those who know, it is the unmistakable call of the peregrine falcon – a sound that has become as much a part of the cathedral’s identity as its gothic arches and stained glass windows.
These birds, once nearly lost to the ravages of pesticide and persecution, have reclaimed their place among the pinnacles and parapets of our urban cathedrals. And here, at Lincoln, they have found a home.
It was on one such morning that I first heard them. The city was still, the streets quiet save for the occasional footstep or the distant hum of early traffic. I stood in Minster Yard, camera in hand, scanning the ornate stonework for movement.
Then, a flash of slate-grey wings and a sudden, electrifying screech drew my eyes upward. There she was – the matriarch of the tower – surveying her domain with fierce dark eyes, about to fly...
— From Tales From the Towers
Bruce Hargrave has spent years photographing the peregrines of Lincoln Cathedral as a volunteer tower guide.
Copies of Tales From the Towers are available at the exhibition and on Amazon.
The newly fledged youngsters quickly make themselves at home among the cathedral's towers
Discover The Peregrines Of Lincoln Cathedral
The photographs on this page were taken from the towers of Lincoln Cathedral while observing the resident peregrines.
Visit the Exhibition in the Lincoln Cathedral Chapter House.
Sponsored by LCE Lincoln, the exhibition runs from 10am on Monday 23rd of March until 4pm on Sunday 29th of March.
Photographers will be on-hand all week to answer any questions you may have.
Entry to the exhibition is included in your cathedral admission charge.