Article #12694

Stevenage, Hertfordshire: Thanks to Andy, who scrabbles around on the pavement, we know that pigeons are just for starters

Andy and I meet by the trolleys in Asda car park. As we head towards Vista Tower in the town centre, he tells me about the new peregrines: VDT, a male born in Hemel Hempstead in 2023, and his mate, VSR, a female born in Andover in 2024, both named for their Darvic ring codes. It’s an encouraging development as they are the first pair to establish a territory here during the breeding season, though Stevenage does have resident peregrines in winter.

We start poking about in pavement cracks and drain grates under the 50-metre-high tower block where the peregrines often feed. I spot scurvy grass, buck’s-horn plantain and some matted clumps of fluff; thankfully, Andy’s an expert at reading the remains. He pulls out cinnamon and white scapular and secondary wing feathers of an ash-red feral pigeon; then a cluster of ivory feathers with dark brown barring, plucked from the vermiculated flank of a male teal – evidence of the peregrines hunting waterbirds by night.