Third peregrine falcon egg laid in Salisbury Cathedral nest box

Salisbury Cathedral's most famous residents have produced another egg, the third so far this breeding season was laid on Saturday afternoon.

The nesting box is half way up the 123m (404 ft) spire and has a webcam enabling staff and fans to keep a watch on the couple's activity.

We could still see another egg as female peregrine falcon's usually lay a clutch of three or four.

Last year four eggs were laid with all four hatching.

The bird will sit on the eggs for brief periods but will start to incubate the eggs properly once all of them are laid.

The incubation period can take approximately 29-30 days, meaning the chicks could hatch in mid April.

Peregrine falcons have hatched their eggs at the tower every year since 2014, except for 2018 when a territorial battle between two females prevented laying.

The birds returned to Salisbury Cathedral in 2014 after more than 60 years thanks to a project with the RSPB.

Peregrine falcon numbers rapidly declined during the 19th and 20th Centuries due to illegal shooting and use of certain pesticides on farms.

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• peregrine falcons
• salisbury cathedral
• nesting box