05/08/2026
An 8-page photo story I wrote and photographed on Londonās urban peregrine falcons has been published in the July Bird Special issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine !
A huge thank you to everyone at BBC Wildlife for believing in the story and making it happen. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you.
And thank you to all the friends who fuelled my obsession with peregrines over the years, shared countless hours watching them, and helped shape this piece through our conversations: Nathalie Mahieu Phil Belman, Tom and the team at South Essex Wildlife Hospital hospital, Stuart Harrington, Sean McCormack , Ed Drewitt, Sarah, Robyn, Laurence, Ros and many others.
I remember seeing my first peregrine when I was eight years old. It filled me with instant awe. Then, during the first COVID lockdown in 2020, I rediscovered them and completely fell in love. More than anything, they have taught me to appreciate the incredible wildlife on my own doorstep. Every photograph in this feature was taken in London, most of them within 30 minutes of where I live.
Watching peregrines has never just been about photography. Itās become a social ritual. Standing with friends beneath Londonās skyline, binoculars, scopes and cameras all pointed at office blocks while confused passers-by wonder what on earth weāre looking at.
Iāll never get bored of watching the fastest animal on Earth tear between Londonās skyscrapers in hot pursuit of pigeons and birds of all shapes and sizes, while thousands of people walk beneath them completely unaware of the drama unfolding overhead.
And finally, Tom the peregrineā¦ Iāll miss you. You were an absolute legend ###
