Introduction
The Glasgow Peregrine Project brings together a series of conservation bodies in an exciting and imaginative initiative to bring one of the planet’s most dynamic species to the people of Glasgow and through the SOC Clyde Branch website, the world.
The project is led by The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, University of Glasgow and the RSPB. Other organisations support the conservation effort, The Glasgow Natural History Society, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Glasgow City Council, Friends of Glasgow’s LNR’s and the Scottish Raptor Study Group. The fascinating life of the Peregrine pair are brought to the public through engagement events at a dedicated watchpoint and all social media platforms. |
Thumbnail image courtesy of George Smith / Scottish Raptor Study Group
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It’s been another fascinating summer with Glasgow’s Peregrines. The birds nested at Glasgow City Chambers and we joined them throughout their breeding season.
The Peregrine Watches saw hundreds of people turn out to enjoy the spectacle. There’s no doubt, the most commonly used word was Wow! The excited exclamation was repeatedly uttered throughout each Peregrine Watch. The ‘Wow’ factor is in no small measure to the wonderful sponsorship the project enjoys from Viking Optical Ltd. Through Trish Donald, Viking Optical provides a range of excellent quality scopes, tripods and binoculars for all to enjoy. In addition to our peregrine project, the optics are now being used to support a variety of birding projects across central Scotland. From Golden Eagle and Hen Harrier breeding activity, through to Hen Harrier winter roost monitoring.
The engagement team love to talk to those who come from all over Scotland to see the birds and marvel at their behaviour. They are joined by tourists from all over the world visiting the wonderful city of Glasgow. The engagement team is drawn from the membership of some of our conservation partners, The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Central Scotland Raptor Study Group (CSRSG). The CSRSG is one of the twelve groups that constitute the Scottish Raptor Study Group (SRSG).
The Peregrine Watches saw hundreds of people turn out to enjoy the spectacle. There’s no doubt, the most commonly used word was Wow! The excited exclamation was repeatedly uttered throughout each Peregrine Watch. The ‘Wow’ factor is in no small measure to the wonderful sponsorship the project enjoys from Viking Optical Ltd. Through Trish Donald, Viking Optical provides a range of excellent quality scopes, tripods and binoculars for all to enjoy. In addition to our peregrine project, the optics are now being used to support a variety of birding projects across central Scotland. From Golden Eagle and Hen Harrier breeding activity, through to Hen Harrier winter roost monitoring.
The engagement team love to talk to those who come from all over Scotland to see the birds and marvel at their behaviour. They are joined by tourists from all over the world visiting the wonderful city of Glasgow. The engagement team is drawn from the membership of some of our conservation partners, The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Central Scotland Raptor Study Group (CSRSG). The CSRSG is one of the twelve groups that constitute the Scottish Raptor Study Group (SRSG).
Bonnie with prey © Jack Murray
To complement our fieldwork and engagement activities, we welcomed some new partners to the project. It’s a pleasure to welcome the University of Strathclyde, Costa Coffee, AC Hotels and Abodus Student Living. Each joined our existing suite of partners. They all bring their own dynamic contribution. Our sincere thanks go each organisation.
To the University of Strathclyde for the use of their Martha Street Car Park which played host to the Peregrine Watches. Without this safe space, viewing the nest could have been very awkward. A huge thank you goes to the University’s car parking and Corporate Communications team.
To the University of Strathclyde for the use of their Martha Street Car Park which played host to the Peregrine Watches. Without this safe space, viewing the nest could have been very awkward. A huge thank you goes to the University’s car parking and Corporate Communications team.
Peregrine Watch © Kevin McCormick
To Abodus Student Living who after an exhaustive Health and Safety process allow us to utilise their roof for fieldwork and monitoring. It gives us an unrivalled vantage point of the nest site and surrounding city centre.
The city centre is the main hunting area and by applying scientific survey methodologies, allow us to study ranging behaviour. This is the first time monitoring of this type has been conducted in the city and the data and observations are fantastic. This sincerest thank you is extended to all the accommodations staff but in particular Caroline, the Abodus Area Manager, who has championed and facilitated our work.
Bonnie © John Agnew
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Bonnie on guard © Olaulo Owoseni
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Our photographic cadre are a new addition to the project and they make great use of this vantage point to obtain some incredible images and convey the spectacular nature of the species. We’re using the term ‘Conservation photographer’ to describe them as we are using their pictures to enhance research into some of our most enigmatic species and their wonderful images will go on to support future articles, scientific papers and social media outputs. The partnership of fieldworkers and photographers has enabled both disciplines to showcase their respective talents with fieldworkers using their knowledge of birds behavioural ecology to aid our very best photographers into the best positions to get images. It’s been wonderful learning from the photographers and we’re all enjoying their incredible images. The team will grow and develop. Sincere thanks go to: Javier Carrasco, Anna Kastner, Richard Bennett, Jack Murray, Ola Owoseni and John Agnew.
Glasgow Peregrine Project photography team (left to right) Anna Kastner, Richard Bennett and John Agnew © John Simpson
Isa with Clyde © Anna Kastner
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Winston © Richard Bennett
A special issue pin badge was available to purchase at the Peregrine Watches
© John Simpson
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To the AC Hotel Glasgow who allow us access to their roof space which gives a remarkable view of the nest and surrounding roof tops. From this vantage point we can monitor the movements of our peregrines throughout the city centre. It also allows us to monitor gull numbers and visible spring migration over the city.
The future plans and projects with the AC Hotel team are exciting and will be announced in due course. A huge thank you goes to the management, reception and maintenance team.
 Dr Paul Baker © John Simpson
Costa Coffee has embraced the project. The company is keen to support projects with an environmental and community focus. The Glasgow Peregrine Project scores heavily in both areas. The Costa team provided refreshments during one of the recent Peregrine Watches and we are keen to reciprocate by encouraging visitors to head for a coffee after seeing the peregrines. Supporting business is a key priority for the project. Thank you to the Costa Coffee George Street team. |
Lesser Black-backed Gull and chick © John Simpson
Clyde © Javier Carrasco
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The breeding season followed the pattern of previous years and a summary of the season’s milestones are as follows:
Peregrine Timeline 2026:
Egg laying
First egg - March 18th
Second egg - March 20th
Third egg - March 23rd
Fourth egg - March 25th
Hatching
The first chick - hatched on 25 April
The second chick - hatched on 26 April
The third chick - hatched on 27 April, but sadly died a few days later.
The fourth egg didn't hatch (most likely scenario is that it was infertile).
From our lofty vantage points we watched the chicks develop, observed food deliveries, the direction the adults went off to hunt and which guard perches Bonnie and Clyde preferred. The interactions between the peregrines and gulls could also be observed more closely. On the 15th May the chicks were ringed. Both birds were fitted with a silver BTO ring bearing their ‘official’ number and a colour ring bearing an individual number and letter combination. There was one male chick, colour ring number 7SH and what the ringers thought might be a female chick, colour ring number 7AJ.
The young birds grow quickly at this stage. In raptors females are bigger than males. Our observations from the vantage points quickly established that 7AJ was in fact bigger and her foot span, a key indicator, was greater.
Egg laying
First egg - March 18th
Second egg - March 20th
Third egg - March 23rd
Fourth egg - March 25th
Hatching
The first chick - hatched on 25 April
The second chick - hatched on 26 April
The third chick - hatched on 27 April, but sadly died a few days later.
The fourth egg didn't hatch (most likely scenario is that it was infertile).
From our lofty vantage points we watched the chicks develop, observed food deliveries, the direction the adults went off to hunt and which guard perches Bonnie and Clyde preferred. The interactions between the peregrines and gulls could also be observed more closely. On the 15th May the chicks were ringed. Both birds were fitted with a silver BTO ring bearing their ‘official’ number and a colour ring bearing an individual number and letter combination. There was one male chick, colour ring number 7SH and what the ringers thought might be a female chick, colour ring number 7AJ.
The young birds grow quickly at this stage. In raptors females are bigger than males. Our observations from the vantage points quickly established that 7AJ was in fact bigger and her foot span, a key indicator, was greater.
Isa (left), Winston (right) © John Simpson
A public vote to name the chicks was organised by Glasgow City Council. The good people of Glasgow decided to keep to the theme we set in 2025 and named the chicks after characters in the popular BBC Scotland comedy series ‘Still Game’. The male chick was named Winston and the female chick Isa.
Both young birds grew quickly on a diet consisting mainly of Feral Pigeon and Starlings. They started venturing from the box along neighbouring ledges. Each of the Peregrine Watches was timed to coincide with these major milestones and our peregrine family did not disappoint the onlookers. The fledging process had started.
Both young birds grew quickly on a diet consisting mainly of Feral Pigeon and Starlings. They started venturing from the box along neighbouring ledges. Each of the Peregrine Watches was timed to coincide with these major milestones and our peregrine family did not disappoint the onlookers. The fledging process had started.
Clyde © Javier Carrasco
Winston and Isa © Jack Murray
Both adults hunted widely within the city centre while Isa and Winston practiced their flying skills around the neighbourhood. Landing clumsily on the AC Hotel, George House and the City Chambers, they’d soon master their environment.
Both young birds favoured the buildings on the north side of George Square. The Met Tower, the old College of Building and Printing, George House and the Abodus building were regular haunts.
Isa and Winston were not however recorded during the later half of August. Regionally, young peregrines are on the move and as their Latin name translates Falco Peregrinus means the ‘Pilgrim’ or wandering falcon. As Isa and Winston were not recorded during the latter half of August it was thought that they may have dispersed, however, our latest fieldwork day recorded both young birds and they appear to be hunting widely throughout the west, north and east of the city.
Bonnie and Clyde continue to utilise the city chambers but have been increasingly spotted back at the University of Glasgow. It’s common for raptors to have an alternative nest site but for many, the hope is that Glasgow’s Peregrines will return to their primary residence, the salubrious penthouse suite in the Gilbert Scott Tower, University of Glasgow. The best address in the city!!!
We’ll continue to monitor Bonnie and Clyde’s life in the city along with all the other peregrines that appear in Glasgow and its environs. A final thank you is for you. The team really appreciate the support, the pictures and reports you submit.
John Simpson,
SOC Clyde Area Local Recorder
Glasgow Peregrine Project
Central Scotland Raptor Study Group
Please consider following the Glasgow Peregrine Project on Facebook and Instagram @glasgow.peregrine.project
Both young birds favoured the buildings on the north side of George Square. The Met Tower, the old College of Building and Printing, George House and the Abodus building were regular haunts.
Isa and Winston were not however recorded during the later half of August. Regionally, young peregrines are on the move and as their Latin name translates Falco Peregrinus means the ‘Pilgrim’ or wandering falcon. As Isa and Winston were not recorded during the latter half of August it was thought that they may have dispersed, however, our latest fieldwork day recorded both young birds and they appear to be hunting widely throughout the west, north and east of the city.
Bonnie and Clyde continue to utilise the city chambers but have been increasingly spotted back at the University of Glasgow. It’s common for raptors to have an alternative nest site but for many, the hope is that Glasgow’s Peregrines will return to their primary residence, the salubrious penthouse suite in the Gilbert Scott Tower, University of Glasgow. The best address in the city!!!
We’ll continue to monitor Bonnie and Clyde’s life in the city along with all the other peregrines that appear in Glasgow and its environs. A final thank you is for you. The team really appreciate the support, the pictures and reports you submit.
John Simpson,
SOC Clyde Area Local Recorder
Glasgow Peregrine Project
Central Scotland Raptor Study Group
Please consider following the Glasgow Peregrine Project on Facebook and Instagram @glasgow.peregrine.project
Since our Autumn update, Victor our 2025 juvenile with the colour ring 34R, dispersed from his city centre haunt and decided to take the brave but natural step to move on. The Peregrine Falcon’s scientific name is Falco Peregrinus which means the ‘falcon wanderer or pilgrim’. He’s off to pastures new, away from his parents and the regular food supply in the city. Hopefully Victor will find a new territory and hunt successfully - and perhaps he’ll return to the city one day like we’ve seen from one of the 2024 brood. More on that later!
Our fieldwork observations in the new year saw us studying Bonnie and Clyde as they continued their routine in the city centre. Our pair were still seen regularly in January and February on the City Chambers and the Cineworld building through the winter months. The pair were visiting the Gilbert Scott Tower at Glasgow University less frequently and it was clear that they were likely to nest this year at a new box installed at the City Chambers in the city centre. Everyone at the University wishes Bonnie and Clyde well and a successful breeding season. Whilst Glasgow’s peregrines have chosen an alternative nest site for this year, the Glasgow Peregrine Project remains the primary conservation collective who are monitoring the birds.
Our fieldwork observations in the new year saw us studying Bonnie and Clyde as they continued their routine in the city centre. Our pair were still seen regularly in January and February on the City Chambers and the Cineworld building through the winter months. The pair were visiting the Gilbert Scott Tower at Glasgow University less frequently and it was clear that they were likely to nest this year at a new box installed at the City Chambers in the city centre. Everyone at the University wishes Bonnie and Clyde well and a successful breeding season. Whilst Glasgow’s peregrines have chosen an alternative nest site for this year, the Glasgow Peregrine Project remains the primary conservation collective who are monitoring the birds.
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Nest change over © John Simpson
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Clyde on guard duty - © John Simpson
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Clyde - close up - © John Simpson
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Through March, regular copulating was observed and egg laying was not far away. On March 18th , we heard from Glasgow City Council that the first egg had been laid. Egg two was laid on March 20th , followed by a third on Monday 23rd and a fourth on the morning of March 25th . These dates are similar to the egg laying in both 2024 (4 eggs) and 2025 (3 eggs). So as Bonnie and Clyde take turns to incubate the 2026 eggs, the wait for hatching starts. We expect this to happen early in the last week of April. It’s no coincidence that the last weekend is also when our first Peregrine Watch of the year will be held. It’ll be conducted in a new location, and we would like to thank the University of Strathclyde who have given their permission to hold the events on their property this year. We will set up with a range of quality optics, telescopes and binoculars, courtesy of our valued partner Viking Optical Ltd. Swarovski Optik UK will also support our special events throughout the summer. Expert representatives from all our conservation partners will be on hand to show you the birds and answer all your questions. Please join us if you can! (Map) We’re looking forward to continuing to study the activities of peregrines and along with the University of Strathclyde, we are delighted to welcome Abodus Student Living and AC Hotel Glasgow to the team. Each organisation is supporting the study of peregrines and wider ornithological research in what is a dynamic and innovative approach to birding and science. We are delighted to have their support. |
Clyde - basking in the spring sunshine © John Simpson
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We study peregrines throughout the city and much further afield in the Clyde area. There’s been a number of peregrines arriving in the city over the last few months, with some passing through. In early March a new female was seen prospecting at the Gilbert Scott Tower at the University of Glasgow but appears to have moved on. An additional boldly marked male appeared and continues to frequent the Finnieston and Govan areas, returning to roost occasionally at the Gilbert Scott Tower.
Peregrines continued to be seen regularly across the area with sightings from Hogganfield Loch, Ruchill, Stobhill, Toryglen and Greenock. We know that birds have been seen regularly at Ardmore, Inchinnan, Balmore, Millichan and Baron’s Haugh too – but one in particular has caused real excitement to the Project team! Over the years we have ringed the chicks with colour rings and this technique (as opposed to satellite tagging) requires direct observation or an image from a camera to follow their movements. Over the last two weeks, we’ve been monitoring one which stood out! As best as we can work out, we’ve had our first re-sighting of one of Bonnie and Clyde’s offspring. We’re sure that this bird we’ve been watching is one of the male juveniles from the 2024 brood - Z66 has come home! We could only get the last two digits (66) but with some investigation by fellow raptor workers, we believe we’ve narrowed it down to Z66. During February and March, peregrine’s push through the city heading to breeding territories. Some are looking for a mate and to form new territories. Some are heading to the hills, but changeable weather pushes them back. We monitor a number of mountain territories, and none are active yet. The conditions can be freezing, nesting crags covered in deep snow and most importantly, there’s little or no prey. So, the wandering nature of the species takes over until the conditions stabilise. It sees them investigate all suitable habitats both urban and rural. Bonnie and Clyde like most urban peregrine’s, enjoy the consistency and continuity of food supply. The heart of the city is warmer and it’s no wonder that the pressures of raising a brood in a rural environment sees the UK population resort more and more to an urban life. So, stay tuned to read more about their incredible story throughout the year! Regular information is posted here on the website, as well as on Facebook and Instagram too @glasgow.peregrine.project |
A pristine Z66 perched on the University chapel spire in 2024. © Brian Gallagher
Bonnie preening - © John Simpson
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This is the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club and Scottish Raptor Study Group outlet for The Glasgow Peregrine Project. All our other valued partners have their own outlets, so please Follow and Share.
On behalf of all the partners involved in the project, thank you for visiting the website and we look forward to welcoming you at one of this year’s Peregrine Watches!
The Glasgow Peregrine Project is brought to you by:
On behalf of all the partners involved in the project, thank you for visiting the website and we look forward to welcoming you at one of this year’s Peregrine Watches!
The Glasgow Peregrine Project is brought to you by:
- The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club
- RSPB Glasgow
- University of Glasgow
- University of Strathclyde
- Glasgow City Council
- Glasgow Natural History Society
- Scottish Raptor Study Group
- Abodus Student Living
- Viking Optical Ltd
- Swarovski Optik UK
- City Sightseeing Worldwide
- AC Hotel Glasgow