Pershore Abbey welcomes first peregrine falcon chick of 2026

An abbey has welcomed its first peregrine falcon chick of 2026, marking its third successful breeding year. The parents, affectionately known as Mr and Mrs P, first arrived at Pershore Abbey in Worcestershire together in 2021, and have returned each year since. Following a disastrous year in 2022 that saw heavy rain wash the birds' eggs away, the abbey constructed a nesting area, known as the Peregrine Palace, which can be watched live on YouTube. Discussing the new arrival, Canon Claire Lording said: "It is such a privilege to be able to observe the wonder of nature by the way of our two discrete livestream cameras." She added: "Watching the full cycle from courtship to fledging has been fascinating for our community. "We are most grateful to our dedicated peregrine team who work tirelessly looking after our feathered family, from carefully washing off the gravel each year to providing the livestream." The first chick of 2026 has been named Pip, an abbreviation for St Philip, and hatched at about 06:30 BST on Wednesday. It could be joined by its siblings in the coming days, as three more eggs are yet to hatch. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagra