Welcome to the St James' Peregrine Webcam 2025
This page is updated with the latest news from St James's.
For news from our other Peregrine webcam at St Wulfram's click here.
If you would like to make a donation to LBC to support the installation and running of this webcam and further conservation projects in the future please click below;
Juveniles should be ringed on the morning of 2nd June. No live-streaming during that time
25 May
Just 2 weeks old, and growing fast.
22 May
The remains of the chick is taken away from the nest at 08.19
21 May
The deceased chick is moved away from the others at 11.15
20 May
Our last-hatched chick died in the early hours of the 20th. It was well-fed initially, but then seemed to become disorientated and not able to accept food – so it wasn't offered any. The adults sense when things are amiss, so won't force food on a sick chick.
It remains to be seen what they do with it, the last time chicks died (2019) they were removed from the nest and carried clear. At Grantham this year, one of their chicks died and was fed to the remaining ones – something we weren't aware happened.
19 May
It looks like one of the chicks is struggling. It missed most of the feeds yesterday and this morning, and has a tendency to get 'stranded', away from the others.
16 May
With these cold northerly winds, changeovers need to be quick!
15 May
Feeds recently are averaging 7 per day, beginning around 05.00, with the last one 19.00. Mostly small prey with some of it cached for later use. All four chicks seem to be doing well, depite the cold wind.
12 May
An evening feed, the third since the last chick hatched.
12 May
4th chick hatched at 11.58 today. The female ate the shell.
11 May
A changeover at 04.37 reveals that the third chick hatched overnight. Impossible to say the precise time as the female had her back to the camera all night. All 3 chicks being fed regularly.
If the 4th egg hatches, it should be no later than the afternoon of the 13th.
10 May
First chick emerged last night at 22.53, followed by the second at 04.43 this morning. Click the image to link to YouTube video
9 May
Following a changeover at 7am, the female knocks one of the eggs out of position, however, she immediately realises and retrieves it.
First hatching any time now!
20 April
Little change over the past few days. The female begins incubating in the evening, typically around 19.30 so she can cover the eggs during the chilly night. She is relieved by the male early morning, around 05.30 and he stays for about 3 hours, when she takes over again. The larger size of the female, plus her brood patch helps to keep the eggs warm.
Notice the pale egg. This was the last to emerge, will it be viable?
9 April
A raucous changeover, as the female comes on for the night shift.
7 April
4th egg appeared at 10.37 today.This is the 5th year in a row that our female has produced four eggs and only one failed to hatch.
We would expect the first chick around 9th May.
6 April
The female left the three eggs unattended for two hours this afternooon – I'm sure she knows what she's doing!
This short video, recorded at 19.29, shows the male taking over incubation duties from his partner. We would expect the 4th egg tommorrow.
Can I thank the lady who has just made a donation to the site in memory of a family member – such a kind (and very welcome) gesture.
4 April
Third egg arrived at 22.50. She is now incubating, so there is likely to be a fourth sometime on Sunday.
2 April
Second egg at 12.45 today. This video is in slow-motion, so you can see the moment of arrival. Third one in two days?
1 April
First egg arrived on the 30th March at 23.17. Expect the 2nd one by tommorrow night.
28 March
The female spent over 7 hours on the nest last night, leaving at around 03.00. She returned at 06.57 and remains there as I write this at 08.00. All signs are that the first egg is imminent – keep watching, I won't be able to post further reports until 1st April.
25 March
Mating again at 05.38 this morning.
22 March
To answer a frequently-asked question, these are the dates of the first egg being laid over the past 4 years:
2021 – 27 March
2022 – 26 March
2023 – 31 March
2024 – 29 March
You can download a PDF with all the data since 2015 HERE
21 March
05.54 this morning. Grainy video of the pair mating on a gargoyle on the north side, after the female spent much of the night sleeping on the nest.
http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/resources/25-03-25.mp4
20 March
The pair mated several times yesterday on the gargoyles on the north side of the tower. Last night, the female came on the nest at 23.45 and slept until 05.30. After a break, she returned at 08.20, departing with the male at 09.30. First egg next week?
http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/resources/18-03-25.mp4
18 March
Grey wagtail living dangerously...
http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/resources/17-03-25.mp4
17 March
The grey wagtail, first seen on the walkway on 6th February is still around – viewed on the west walkway at 06.50 this morning.
Meanwhile, the peregrines are making increasingly regular visits to the nest. First egg by the end of the month?
14 March
08.20 this morning
http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/resources/14-03-25.mp4
10 March
The benefit of multiple cameras on the tower walkway. The male is first spotted arriving on the south walkway (16.45), before scuttling along the west side, to arrive at the north, where he works on the gravel in the nest tray.
http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/resources/10-03-25.mp4
9 March
Feeding frenzy!
http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/resources/09-03-25.mp4
8 March
A red kite drifted near the church at 15.15 and our female peregrine chased it off, accompanied by suitable calls of encouragement by the male, perched on the spire. First engagement with a raptor this year.
7 March
Much activity on the nest today – single birds and sometimes the pair.
6 March
Male brings a gift for the female, but she had just left.
5 March
Love is in the air! Numerous visits by our pair today.
http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/resources/05-03-25.mp4
3 March
A few visits by the female today, enlarging the scrape and eating gravel (that aids digestion). Then, around 17.30, the pair arrived together, with the male first on the nest. The female remained for 20 minutes.
http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/resources/03-03-25.mp4
28 February
The male poked his head through the crenellations at 7am this morning. Presumably checking the nest is still in place!
Later, the female made two visits to the nest – at 12.09 for 25 minutes, and again at 16.00 for 10 minutes. On both occasions she worked on creating a scrape in the gravel, ready for nesting.
26 February
FINALLY!!! the cameras are working. I hope to get the live-streaming going in the next day or so, in the meatime, I'll post any interesting footage here.
21 February
Another day, another fruitless climb to the tower, to replace a failed power unit. However, the problem remains – probably somewhere in the photo below. Any qualified CCTV experts available?!
Meanwhile, our pair have taken to roosting on the east side of the tower, sheltered just above the bell chamber. We would expect the female to begin sitting on the nest in a couple of weeks.
16 February
A power failure somewhere has stopped the recording and streaming. Possibly within the church, which is closed until tomorrow.
13 February
First visit to the nest tray by the pair this afternoon. They arrived at 15.51 and stayed for 12 minutes. Exactly the same date as last year!
http://www.louthperegrines.org.uk/resources/13-2-25.mp4
9 February
Black redstart visible on the east walkway 08.00.
6 February
Second visit by the male at 07.08. He stayed for 6 minutes, eating gravel. The black redstart was recorded by the cameras on all four walkways from first light.
2 February
10 days earlier than last year, the male makes his first visit at 07.35 today. The black redstart was also present briefly at 09.45
29 January
A remarkable recording by the nest camera yesterday. Around 13.30, a black redstart was seen feeding on and around the nest tray. It remained for about 1 hour and was possibly the bird seen in the east of the town on 7 January, a scarce winter visitor and a first for Louth since April 2012.
Click the image below to see the video on YouTube.
27 January
The nest tray was put in place today. Also, all the cameras have been installed, including the live-stream to the church coffee shop and a new camera monitoring the south walkway (previously hidden from view). This camera was paid for by Mike Tarrant and Julia Mullett, in memory of Julia's brother Barry Clarkson, an acomplished bird-watcher, who passed away suddenly on 26 December 2023.
Our birds watched the proceedings from the spire.
15 January 2025
And we’re off! The pair together on the east side of the tower, roosting above the bell chamber mid-afternoon.
Cameras and nest tray on 27th January, weather permitting.
