Peregrine falcon spotted throughout Southampton city centre...

As spring draws near, keen-eyed photographers have seen the fastest mammal in the world in Southampton.

As the predatory bird hovered atop large buildings in the city centre and gazed down at the people below, members of the Daily Echo

Camera Club managed to capture the moment on camera.

At the beginning of March, Ricky Wallis observed one of the falcons in the middle of Southampton. When diving, these birds can reach

top speeds of almost 200 miles per hour.

Ricky Wallis saw this peregrine falcon in Southampton.The lightning fast bird is the UK’s biggest falcon, and Hampshire and Isle of

Wight Wildlife Trust says the bird can be easily identified through its white throat and cheeks.

Peregrine falcons typically nest on sea cliffs and rocky areas, though they have also used tall buildings as an alternative home.

That was where fellow Camera Club member James Leslie-William Oliver saw one of the birds at the end of January, as he caught the

falcon getting ready to fly from the top of Grenville House.

The five-storey building erected in 1977 overlooks Southampton Central train station, and the world’s fastest bird was making himself

at home as it rested high up on the building.

Previously, a peregrine falcon was perched atop the Southampton Clock Tower to protect itself from the weather.

Additionally, Graham Snelgar managed to observe a peregrine falcon mid-call in Gosport, where he took an amazing picture of the bird.

Although the birds are increasingly being spotted across the United Kingdom, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust states

that they typically nest in the north and south west of England.

Although they have been known to use towering buildings, they mostly live on coastal cliffs.

Even though the falcons in the picture weren’t hunting, peregrines frequently consume bats, ducks, and bunnies.

Peregrine falcon spotted throughout Southampton city centre