WINCHESTER Cathedral has installed a new webcam to monitor the movements of its resident peregrines falcons, who have now returned to the city landmark for a third consecutive year.

A live link on the cathedral website will give members of the public the opportunity to follow the progress of the peregrines as they build their nest. A male and female have already been spotted scoping out the nesting tray installed on the North Transept of the cathedral.

The webcam will help the Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS) track the behaviour of the peregrines and enable the public to engage with the predators without interfering with their vital breeding process.

As previously reported, a pair of peregrines had originally been nesting on the former Hampshire police headquarters, based in Romsey Road, since 2011, but had to relocate after the building was demolished in 2016.

After discovering Winchester Cathedral, the peregrine falcons finally settled into their new home early last year in a quiet and undisturbed corner of the cathedral.

Following the installation of a raised nesting tray in 2018, three chicks were reared and stayed around the cathedral for much of the summer. As peregrines are loyal to nest sites, the cathedral staff have cleaned the tray in the hope that nesting will take place once again.

Keith Betton, Chairman of HOS, said: “It is so good to be able to watch these majestic birds at close range, and to marvel at their ability to fly so fast. They have had a tough time in the past and now it is time to help them. It is great to be working with the Cathedral staff to help these birds.”

Speaking after the hatching of the chicks last year, Mr Betton described falcons as "one of the most enigmatic birds in the world", adding that they are "a skilful hunter; sharp-eyed enough to see their prey from a distance of 3km, and capable of flying at 200mph".

Cathedral virger Ian James added: “The virgers wait with eager anticipation for the return of the birds. Once they arrive and start to show interest in the nest site we monitor on a twice-daily basis to observe the nesting habits.”

Nationwide, the population of peregrine falcons has increased rapidly in the last five decades, from 350 pairs in the 1970s to an estimated 1,700 pairs today. The first pair of peregrines in Hampshire nested on Fawley Power Station in 1993.