On Thursday 15 and Thursday 22 August, keen photographers will have the unique opportunity to take pictures of the resident peregrine falcons from the top of the central tower of Lincoln Cathedral.
The tours will be led by Bruce Hargrave, who was part of the team from the University of Lincoln which set up the peregrine falcon webcam on the tower earlier this year.
Each tour, with a maximum of six places, will be accompanied by Lincoln Cathedral Tower Guides, and will give those attending the chance to capture images of these fantastic birds as they fly past at eye level!
These will be the only two ‘top of the tower’ photographic opportunities for this year – hopefully before the juvenile birds leave for pastures new. Each trip will last for an hour and a half, allowing for a full hour on the top of the tower for photography.
The tour on Thursday 15 August will take place at 10am and on Thursday 22 August it will be 4pm. Places on the tour cost £40 per person, and because places are limited to six per tour, booking is essential. Places can be reserved by calling Lincoln Cathedral on 01522 561600.
The peregrines have been nesting on the central tower of the Cathedral for the last 13 years, and have been come a popular sight for local birdwatchers and tourists alike.
Anyone wishing to take part should be aware that there are 338 steps to climb to get to the top of the tower so you will need to be fit enough to climb up – There will be regular stops on the way up to catch your breath! Also, please note that the spiral staircase up to the tower gets quite narrow in places, so you are limited in terms of what gear you can carry up there – a bulky backpack is likely to get you stuck part way up!
Please note: As with all wildlife photography, there is a chance that the wildlife may not show up – but the tour times have been chosen to coincide with when the birds are likely to be active. If we do not see the birds on the tour that you have booked, you will have the chance to rebook (for free) for another date. If the birds have not been seen for two consecutive days before each tour, a decision may be taken to cancel the tour; in this case, all those who have booked a place will be notified by email.
